Transcriptional control in Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and associated genes, proteins, and methods

ABSTRACT

Isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from  Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius  are provided. Further provided are methods of modulating transcription or transcription or transcriptional control using isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences from  Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/920,598, filed Oct. 22, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,499,824, issued Nov. 22, 2016, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/256,819, filed Apr. 18, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,187,753, issued Nov. 17, 2015, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/380,008, filed Feb. 20, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,716,011, issued May 6, 2014, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/030,820, filed Feb. 22, 2008, for “TRANSCRIPTIONAL CONTROL IN ALICYCLOBACILLUS ACIDOCALDARIUS AND ASSOCIATED GENES, PROTEINS, AND METHODS,” the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was made with government support under Contract Number DE-AC07-99ID13727 and Contract Number DE-AC07-05ID14517 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The government has certain rights in the invention.

STATEMENT ACCORDING TO 37 C.F.R. § 1.821(C) OR (E)—SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMITTED AS PDF FILE WITH A REQUEST TO TRANSFER CRF FROM PARENT APPLICATION

Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.821(c) or (e), a file containing a PDF version of the Sequence Listing has been submitted concomitant with this application, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The transmittal documents of this application include a Request to Transfer CRF from the parent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to biotechnology. More specifically, the present invention relates to isolated and/or purified polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and methods for their use.

BACKGROUND

Bacterial DNA codes for information that regulates transcription of genes into mRNA which codes for proteins or enzymes used for control of growth and processing of energy, carbon and other compounds by the cell. Most of these transcriptional regulators/repressors function to turn on and off genes to minimize expenditure of cellular energy in response to their growth environment (i.e., presence of growth substrate, metals, temperature, etc.).

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention relate to purified and/or isolated nucleotide sequences of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, or a homologue or fragment thereof. In one embodiment of the invention, the nucleotide sequence is selected from at least one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 or a homologue or fragment thereof. In another embodiment of the invention, the homologue is selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to at least one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928.

Embodiments of the invention may further relate to an isolated and/or purified nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to isolated and/or purified polypeptides coded for by a nucleotide sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, or a homologue or fragment thereof. In one embodiment, the nucleotide sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to at least one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928.

In another embodiment of the invention, the nucleotide sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from at least one of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 or a homologue or fragment thereof. In still another embodiment, the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927. In yet another embodiment, the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927.

In embodiments of the invention, the polypeptides may be acidophilic and/or thermophilic. In further embodiments, the polypeptides may be glycosylated, pegylated, and/or otherwise post-translationally modified.

Embodiments of methods include placing a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 in, or replacing a component, of an in-vitro transcription system such as, by way of non-limiting example, a polymerase chain reaction or a reticulocyte lysate transcription/translation system.

Further embodiments of methods include placing a cell producing or encoding a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated nucleotide sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequences having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 and/or a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 in an environment comprising temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or a pH at, below, and/or above 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan in view of the teachings contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1446 (RAAC01465) and ref|ZP_01666866.1|, ref|YP_001039288.1|, ref|YP_001210812.1|, ref|YP_001111548.1|, and ref|ZP_01576004.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1448-1452), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1446 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 2 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 443 (RAAC00371) and ref|YP_145986.1|, ref|YP_001124263.1|, ref|NP_241028.1|, ref|YP_001210899.1|, and ref|YP_001111617.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 445-449), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 443 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 3A-3C depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 477 (RAAC00408) and ref|ZP_02326346.1|, ref|NP_240992.1|, ref|YP_001124230.1|, ref|YP_145951.1|, and ref|YP_173646.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 479-483), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 477 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 4A-4C depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 460 (RAAC00407) and ref|ZP_02326345.1|, ref|YP_001124231.1|, ref|NP_240993.1|, ref|YP_145952.1|, and ref|NP_976431.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 462-466), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 460 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 5 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 596 (RAAC00480) and ref|NP_244660.1|, ref|ZP_01168478.1|, ref|YP_001127419.1|, ref|ZP_01860921.1|, and ref|NP_693930.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 598-602), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 596 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 6 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 307 (RAAC00147) and ref|YP_850042.1|, ref|NP_465351.1|, ref|YP_014447.1|, ref|NP_268055.1|, and ref|NP_471274.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 309-313), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 307 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 7 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1752 (RAAC01826) and ref|YP_074736.1|, ref|YP_074981.1|, ref|YP_001394390.1|, ref|NP_244228.1|, and ref|YP_001275817.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1754-1758), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1752 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 8 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 868 (RAAC00896) and ref|YP_001126509.1|, ref|YP_148335.1|, ref|ZP_02328521.1|, ref|ZP_01173341.1|, and ref|YP_001376241.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 870-874), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 868 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 9 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 256 (RAAC00120) and ref|NP_243422.1|, ref|YP_146980.1|, ref|YP_001125115.1|, ref|ZP_01862300.1|, and ref|ZP_01172495.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 258-262), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 256 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 10 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1956 (RAAC02146) and ref|YP_001126333.1|, gb|AAB81194.1|, ref|YP_148161.1|, pdb|1L0O|C, and ref|YP_001487306.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1958-1962), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1956 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 11 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 273 (RAAC00121) and ref|ZP_02330758.1|, ref|YP_001212395.1|, ref|YP_001125116.1|, ref|NP_243420.1|, and ref|ZP_01667054.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 275-279), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 273 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 12 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2262 (RAAC02546) and ref|YP_001512033.1|, ref|NP_976421.1|, ref|NP_842661.1|, ref|NP_829995.1|, and ref|YP_001373458.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2264-2268), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2262 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 13 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 511 (RAAC00418) and ref|YP_077384.1|, ref|YP_001419777.1|, emb|CAA41793.1|, ref|ZP_01173595.1|, and ref|NP_240981.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 513-517), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 511 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 14 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2602 (RAAC02968) and ref|YP_001409756.1|, ref|YP_001485343.1|, ref|YP_181606.1|, ref|NP_976421.1|, and ref|NP_842661.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2604-2608), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2602 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 15 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2927 (RAAC03263) and RTHT02135, RTHT02135, RBLH00099, RBSB05130, and RCTH01302 (SEQ ID NOS: 2929-2933), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2927 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 16 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 817 (RAAC00856) and ref|YP_001126560.1|, ref|NP_242151.1|, ref|YP_175113.1|, ref|YP_148388.1|, and ref|ZP_01861605.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 819-823), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 817 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 17 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1735 (RAAC01814) and ref|YP_148388.1|, ref|YP_001126560.1|, gb|ABY76244.1|, ref|YP_896655.1|, and ref|NP_980714.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1737-1741), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1735 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 18 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2381 (RAAC02673) and ref|YP_001486125.1|, ref|ZP_01696681.1|, ref|NP_388808.1|, ref|NP_830819.1|, and ref|YP_001643827.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2383-2387), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2381 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 19 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1905 (RAAC02112) and ref|YP_148250.1|, ref|ZP_01725195.1|, ref|NP_390312.1|, ref|ZP_00538565.1|, and ref|YP_001126420.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1907-1911), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1905 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 20 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2568 (RAAC02902) and ref|YP_147113.1|, ref|NP_243282.1|, ref|YP_001125233.1|, ref|YP_175727.1|, and ref|ZP_02330483.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2570-2574), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2568 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 21 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 494 (RAAC00415) and ref|ZP_01173598.1|, ref|YP_173640.1|, ref|YP_089786.1|, ref|YP_848410.1|, and ref|NP_691027.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 496-500), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 494 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 22A and 22B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 562 (RAAC00475) and ref|YP_149235.1|, ref|YP_001127411.1|, ref|YP_001377035.1|, gb|AAU09403.1|, and ref|YP_039325.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 564-568), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 562 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 23A and 23B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2619 (RAAC02984) and ref|ZP_01173129.1|, ref|ZP_01696484.1|, ref|YP_001488275.1|, ref|ZP_02171541.1|, and ref|YP_173520.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2621-2625), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2619 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 24A and 24B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2636 (RAAC02994) and ref|NP_244812.1|, ref|ZP_02171541.1|, ref|ZP_01173129.1|, ref|YP_090070.1|, and ref|YP_077660.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2638-2642), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2636 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 25 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 86 (RAAC00039) and ref|YP_177603.1|, ref|NP_244925.1|, ref|YP_001423363.1|, ref|ZP_02327875.1|, and ref|ZP_02172038.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 88-92), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 86 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 26 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1871 (RAAC02034) and ref|YP_001422137.1|, ref|YP_080133.1|, ref|NP_243941.1|, ref|YP_176156.1|, and ref|YP_001376422.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1873-1877), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1871 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 27 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 188 (RAAC00092) and ref|ZP_01697682.1|, ref|YP_146960.1|, ref|NP_242122.1|, ref|YP_001125095.1|, and ref|ZP_01860230.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 190-194), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 188 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 28 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2143 (RAAC02454) and ref|YP_001125095.1|, ref|YP_896293.1|, ref|YP_146960.1|, ref|NP_389392.1|, and ref|ZP_02261942.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2145-2149), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2143 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 29 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 341 (RAAC00212) and ref|YP_752777.1|, ref|YP_001666100.1|, ref|NP_621806.1|, ref|ZP_01666183.1|, and ref|YP_077079.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 343-347), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 341 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 30 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2772 (RAAC03236) and ref|YP_001666100.1|, ref|YP_001317994.1|, ref|NP_621806.1|, ref|YP_001181188.1|, and ref|NP_346951.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2774-2778), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2772 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 31 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2296 (RAAC02603) and ref|NP_346951.1|, ref|YP_001181188.1|, ref|YP_001666100.1|, ref|NP_621806.1|, and ref|YP_001317994.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2298-2302), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2296 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 32 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 324 (RAAC00161) and gb|AAC62407.1|, ref|YP_001374031.1|, ref|NP_830661.1|, ref|YP_037204.1|, and ref|NP_979446.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 326-330), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 324 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 33 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 919 (RAAC00923) and ref|YP_001422239.1|, ref|YP_001420593.1|, ref|ZP_01697004.1|, ref|ZP_01170670.1|, and ref|YP_001486165.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 921-925), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 919 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 34 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 749 (RAAC00643) and ref|ZP_02330525.1|, ref|NP_623103.1|, ref|ZP_02330045.1|, ref|YP_001665292.1|, and ref|YP_001665293.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 751-755), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 749 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 35 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1361 (RAAC01427) and ref|NP_240926.1|, ref|ZP_02330558.1|, ref|YP_001419725.1|, ref|NP_829946.1|, and ref|NP_842611.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1363-1367), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1361 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 36 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 426 (RAAC00365) and ref|YP_173696.1|, ref|ZP_02329530.1|, ref|ZP_01696660.1|, ref|NP_241105.1|, and ref|YP_001124272.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 428-432), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 426 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 37A and 37B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1531 (RAAC01563) and ref|ZP_01665476.1|, ref|ZP_02259717.1|, ref|YP_036745.1|, ref|YP_028716.1|, and ref|YP_083969.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1533-1537), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1531 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 38 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2806 (RAAC02315) and ref|YP_145847.1|, gb|ABG00342.1|, ref|YP_536482.1|, ref|YP_891181.1|, and ref|YP_799230.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2808-2812), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2806 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 39 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 103 (RAAC00040) and ref|YP_001423364.1|, ref|NP_391977.1|, ref|YP_001488932.1|, ref|YP_093870.1|, and ref|YP_081433.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 105-109), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 103 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 40 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 205 (RAAC00113) and ref|ZP_01697918.1|, ref|YP_001125108.1|, emb|CAJ75583.1|, ref|YP_146973.1|, and ref|ZP_01172488.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 207-211), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 205 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 41A and 41B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 222 (RAAC00117) and ref|ZP_02330014.1|, emb|CAJ75587.1|, ref|YP_146977.1|, ref|YP_001125112.1|, and ref|NP_243425.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 224-228), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 222 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 42 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 239 (RAAC00118) and ref|YP_078922.1|, ref|YP_001375784.1|, ref|ZP_02171874.1|, ref|YP_001646530.1|, and gb|AAN04557.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 241-245), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 239 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 43 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1344 (RAAC01377) and ref|YP_147952.1|, ref|YP_520670.1|, ref|YP_001395809.1|, ref|YP_001309701.1|, and ref|YP_001643660.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1346-1350), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1344 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 44A and 44B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2840 (RAAC02381) and ref|NP_622177.1|, ref|YP_848858.1|, ref|YP_001374688.1|, ref|NP_470039.1|, and ref|ZP_01929325.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2842-2846), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2840 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 45 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1038 (RAAC00991) and ref|ZP_02327412.1|, ref|YP_001487207.1|, ref|ZP_01172765.1|, ref|NP_831314.1|, and ref|NP_844008.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1040-1044), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1038 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 46 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 766 (RAAC00650) and ref|YP_001127183.1|, ref|ZP_02038504.1|, ref|YP_001647987.1|, ref|YP_001377114.1|, and ref|NP_835081.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 768-772), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 766 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 47 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2041 (RAAC02421) and ref|ZP_01721811.1|, ref|NP_241897.1|, ref|YP_001486101.1|, ref|ZP_01170532.1|, and ref|ZP_02327994.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2043-2047), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2041 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 48A and 48B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1922 (RAAC02142) and ref|ZP_01860158.1|, ref|YP_148164.1|, ref|NP_242401.1|, ref|YP_001126336.1|, and ref|YP_001421751.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1924-1928), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1922 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 49A and 49B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2687 (RAAC03015) and ref|NP_628606.1|, ref|ZP_02061285.1|, ref|NP_824958.1|, emb|CAA04971.1|, and gb|AAC32488.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2689-2693), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2687 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 50A and 50B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2517 (RAAC02227) and ref|YP_430213.1|, ref|YP_001212426.1|, ref|YP_001663198.1|, ref|YP_360920.1|, and ref|YP_001665129.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2519-2523), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2517 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 51 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 834 (RAAC00872) and ref|NP_622598.1|, ref|YP_001320854.1|, ref|YP_001665389.1|, ref|YP_001037463.1|, and ref|YP_001512768.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 836-840), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 834 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 52 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 120 (RAAC00045) and ref|ZP_02172045.1|, ref|ZP_01189194.1|, ref|NP_244931.1|, ref|YP_001213468.1|, and ref|YP_358877.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 122-126), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 120 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 53A and 53B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2092 (RAAC02428) and dbj|BAB83769.1|, ref|YP_146913.1|, sp|P11961|ODP2_BACST, ref|ZP_01696305.1|, and ref|YP_001125047.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2094-2098), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2092 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 54A and 54B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1650 (RAAC01659) and ref|ZP_02326222.1|, ref|NP_241081.1|, ref|YP_074242.1|, ref|YP_001153408.1|, and ref|NP_560158.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1652-1656), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1650 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 55 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1701 (RAAC01745) and ref|YP_001127228.1|, ref|YP_149070.1|, ref|ZP_00539127.1|, ref|ZP_02326224.1|, and ref|NP_241079.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1703-1707), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1701 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 56 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1718 (RAAC01746) and ref|YP_149069.1|, ref|YP_001127227.1|, ref|ZP_00539126.1|, ref|YP_001125046.1|, and ref|NP_833691.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1720-1724), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1718 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 57 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2058 (RAAC02426) and ref|NP_243521.1|, pdb|1W85|A, sp|P21873|ODPA_BACST, ref|YP_001421036.1|, and ref|YP_146911.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2060-2064), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2058 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 58 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2075 (RAAC02427) and ref|ZP_01696304.1|, sp|P21874|ODPB_BACST, ref|YP_001125046.1|, pdb|1W85|B, and ref|YP_146912.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2077-2081), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2075 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 59 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1616 (RAAC01657) and ref|ZP_02326224.1|, dbj|BAB40585.1|, ref|NP_241079.1|, ref|YP_001126012.1|, and ref|ZP_01171269.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1618-1622), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1616 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 60 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1633 (RAAC01658) and ref|ZP_02326223.1|, ref|NP_241080.1|, dbj|BAB40586.1|, ref|YP_001126011.1|, and ref|NP_693798.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1635-1639), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1633 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 61A and 61B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 630 (RAAC00484) and ref|YP_001125466.1|, ref|ZP_01697095.1|, ref|YP_147353.1|, ref|ZP_01886631.1|, and ref|YP_077737.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 632-636), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 630 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 62 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 613 (RAAC00483) and ref|NP_886151.1|, ref|YP_147354.1|, ref|YP_001125467.1|, ref|YP_001420062.1|, and ref|NP_242684.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 615-619), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 613 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 63 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 290 (RAAC00134) and ref|ZP_01860800.1|, ref|YP_147000.1|, ref|ZP_01695960.1|, ref|YP_001125127.1|, and ref|YP_806677.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 292-296), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 290 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 64 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 358 (RAAC00215) and ref|YP_145879.1|, ref|ZP_01697513.1|, ref|YP_001124157.1|, ref|ZP_01174007.1|, and ref|YP_001642924.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 360-364), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 358 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 65 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2177 (RAAC02164) and ref|YP_359129.1|, ref|ZP_02127016.1|, ref|YP_001540277.1|, pdb|1M2N|A, and pdb|1M2K|A (SEQ ID NOS: 2179-2183), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2177 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 66A-66C depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1395 (RAAC01438) and ref|YP_173587.1|, ref|NP_240935.1|, ref|YP_001373418.1|, ref|YP_892975.1|, and ref|NP_976379.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1397-1401), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1395 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 67 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2755 (RAAC03184) and ref|YP_001105447.1|, ref|YP_117520.1|, ref|YP_046943.1|, ref|YP_707186.1|, and ref|YP_001337847.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2757-2761), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2755 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 68 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2859 (RAAC02740) and ref|NP_391246.1|, ref|YP_001488252.1|, ref|NP_244416.1|, ref|YP_001112264.1|, and ref|YP_430670.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2861-2865), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2859 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 69 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2893 (RAAC02937) and ref|YP_075413.1|, ref|YP_001662816.1|, ref|YP_001664674.1|, ref|YP_827514.1|, and ref|YP_827514.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2895-2899), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2893 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 70 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 783 (RAAC00675) and ref|YP_001373772.1|, ref|YP_034761.1|, ref|YP_893335.1|, ref|ZP_00237972.1|, and ref|ZP_02329595.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 785-789), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 783 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 71 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2789 (RAAC02292) and gb|AAB91591.1|, ref|YP_001422657.1|, ref|NP_391247.1|, ref|YP_093160.1|, and ref|NP_391246.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2791-2795), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2789 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 72 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1599 (RAAC01655) and ref|ZP_00235680.1|, ref|NP_241278.1|, ref|NP_845841.1|, ref|ZP_02260616.1|, and ref|ZP_02256143.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1601-1605), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1599 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 73 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 545 (RAAC00436) and ref|ZP_02171828.1|, ref|YP_077369.1|, ref|YP_001485328.1|, ref|ZP_02329455.1|, and ref|YP_001419762.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 547-551), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 545 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 74 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1429 (RAAC01464) and ref|YP_001485324.1|, ref|YP_001124204.1|, ref|YP_145925.1|, ref|YP_077366.1|, and ref|NP_829977.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1431-1435), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1429 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 75 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 698 (RAAC00579) and ref|ZP_01440002.1|, ref|NP_896891.1|, ref|YP_001623237.1|, ref|ZP_01419169.1|, and ref|ZP_01084741.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 700-704), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 698 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 76 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2721 (RAAC03156) and ref|YP_954024.1|, ref|YP_001360254.1|, ref|YP_001156989.1|, ref|ZP_00050136.21, and ref|YP_591607.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2723-2727), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2721 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 77 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 715 (RAAC00603) and ref|YP_001309477.1|, ref|YP_001180339.1|, ref|NP_242735.1|, ref|YP_173905.1|, and ref|ZP_00603386.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 717-721), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 715 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 78 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2738 (RAAC03180) and ref|YP_001664041.1|, ref|YP_001210714.1|, ref|NP_242309.1|, ref|ZP_02038515.1|, and ref|YP_085042.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2740-2744), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2738 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 79 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2024 (RAAC02417) and ref|NP_469419.1|, ref|ZP_02309926.1|, ref|ZP_01926077.1|, ref|ZP_01941236.1|, and ref|YP_001111866.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2026-2030), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2024 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 80 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1786 (RAAC01912) and ref|YP_001103030.1|, ref|YP_001363698.1|, ref|NP_625321.1|, ref|NP_822608.1|, and ref|ZP_00996757.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1788-1792), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1786 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 81 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2330 (RAAC02663) and ref|YP_527240.1|, ref|NP_435364.1|, ref|YP_001313948.1|, ref|YP_001169444.1|, and ref|ZP_01509063.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2332-2336), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2330 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 82 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1191 (RAAC01158) and ref|YP_077724.1|, ref|YP_643029.1|, ref|YP_174340.1|, ref|YP_001308645.1|, and ref|YP_516602.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1193-1197), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1191 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 83 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 137 (RAAC00068) and ref|ZP_02328287.1|, ref|YP_001420528.1|, ref|YP_430032.1|, ref|ZP_02082978.1|, and ref|ZP_01962813.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 139-143), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 137 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 84 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1055 (RAAC01035) and ref|YP_642998.1|, ref|NP_822795.1|, emb|CAJ88752.1|, ref|YP_001191149.1|, and ref|YP_752794.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1057-1061), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1055 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 85 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1854 (RAAC02031) and ref|YP_148128.1|, ref|YP_001126297.1|, ref|YP_900875.1|, ref|ZP_01662088.1|, and ref|ZP_01697892.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1856-1860), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1854 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 86 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2653 (RAAC03005) and ref|YP_001127075.1|, ref|YP_148880.1|, ref|YP_832996.1|, ref|YP_949591.1|, and ref|YP_950253.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2655-2659), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2653 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 87 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2160 (RAAC02459) and ref|YP_073926.1|, emb|CAB08003.1|, ref|YP_431134.1|, ref|YP_001422711.1|, and ref|YP_080763.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2162-2166), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2160 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 88 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1293 (RAAC01353) and RAAC01353_nuc, ref|YP_147389.1|, ref|NP_243003.1|, ref|YP_001125502.1|, and ref|YP_001665938.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1294-1298), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1293 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 89 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2109 (RAAC02432) and ref|ZP_02329176.1|, ref|YP_076367.1|, ref|NP_694155.1|, ref|YP_001126042.1|, and ref|YP_643152.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2111-2115), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2109 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 90 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 681 (RAAC00570) and emb|CAB65654.1|, ref|YP_001662226.1|, ref|YP_001664166.1|, ref|NP_624096.1|, and ref|ZP_02171282.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 683-687), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 681 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 91 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 375 (RAAC00269) and ref|ZP_01188890.1|, ref|ZP_01188246.1|, ref|ZP_01188241.1|, ref|NP_242794.1|, and ref|NP_244559.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 377-381), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 375 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 92 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1837 (RAAC02012) and ref|YP_430255.1|, ref|YP_518526.1|, ref|ZP_01369294.1|, ref|YP_361384.1|, and ref|YP_001213325.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1839-1843), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1837 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 93 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1667 (RAAC01701) and ref|NP_691275.1|, ref|NP_354021.1|, ref|YP_174284.1|, ref|ZP_01074644.1|, and ref|NP_772010.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1669-1673), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1667 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 94 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 936 (RAAC00927) and ref|ZP_02330514.1|, ref|NP_347485.1|, ref|YP_001253394.1|, ref|YP_001308605.1|, and ref|YP_001376921.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 938-942), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 936 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 95 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 953 (RAAC00935) and ref|YP_001422559.1|, ref|NP_391166.1|, gb|AAB87745.1|, pdb|1S3J|A, and ref|YP_001643469.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 955-959), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 953 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 96 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1888 (RAAC02041) and ref|NP_693030.1|, ref|YP_001320949.1|, ref|YP_001512727.1|, ref|YP_001126687.1|, and ref|YP_148522.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1890-1894), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1888 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 97 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2670 (RAAC02241) and ref|NP_629113.1|, ref|NP_824479.1|, ref|YP_001508494.1|, ref|ZP_01169478.1|, and ref|NP_631123.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2672-2676), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2670 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 98 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2347 (RAAC02671) and ref|NP_388620.1|, ref|YP_001420380.1|, ref|YP_090401.1|, ref|YP_077997.1|, and ref|YP_714968.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2349-2353), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2347 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 99 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 664 (RAAC00549) and ref|YP_427081.1|, ref|YP_001141973.1|, ref|YP_927240.1|, ref|YP_001141729.1|, and ref|YP_856665.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 666-670), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 664 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 100 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1123 (RAAC01080) and dbj|BAA00729.1|, ref|NP_389627.1|, ref|ZP_02328256.1|, ref|NP_833433.1|, and ref|YP_001375615.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1125-1129), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1123 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 101 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1140 (RAAC01126) and ref|YP_146517.1|, ref|ZP_00739458.1|, ref|YP_001124699.1|, ref|YP_893832.1|, and ref|NP_830863.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1142-1146), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 664 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 102 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1174 (RAAC01138) and ref|NP_832103.1|, ref|YP_894956.1|, ref|ZP_02215257.1|, ref|NP_978750.1|, and ref|NP_844783.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1176-1180), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1174 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 103 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 409 (RAAC00354) and ref|YP_001309939.1|, ref|YP_001643723.1|, ref|YP_079403.1|, ref|YP_001647188.1|, and ref|NP_980994.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 411-415), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 409 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 104 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2415 (RAAC02712) and ref|YP_036650.1|, ref|NP_978853.1|, ref|ZP_01173627.1|, ref|NP_844911.1|, and ref|ZP_02256518.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2417-2421), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2415 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 105 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1072 (RAAC01059) and ref|ZP_02327699.1|, ref|YP_001126706.1|, ref|YP_148542.1|, ref|NP_243968.1|, and ref|YP_360433.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1074-1078), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1072 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 106 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1565 (RAAC01638) and ref|YP_076316.1|, ref|YP_603589.1|, ref|NP_296097.1|, ref|YP_004584.1|, and ref|YP_144239.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1567-1571), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1565 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 107 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1973 (RAAC02161) and ref|YP_148132.1|, ref|YP_001126301.1|, ref|ZP_02330236.1|, ref|NP_242446.1|, and ref|YP_175331.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1975-1979), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1973 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 108 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 392 (RAAC00349) and ref|YP_430046.1|, ref|YP_358986.1|, ref|YP_001213400.1|, ref|ZP_02330078.1|, and ref|YP_001114520.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 394-398), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 392 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 109 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1327 (RAAC01375) and ref|YP_079987.1|, ref|YP_001634921.1|, ref|YP_290510.1|, ref|YP_001423330.1|, and ref|YP_001422015.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1329-1333), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1327 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 110 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 18 (RAAC00013) and ref|YP_146744.1|, ref|YP_001647744.1|, ref|NP_981573.1|, ref|ZP_02255842.1|, and ref|YP_897365.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 20-24), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 18 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 111 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1480 (RAAC01493) and ref|YP_075596.1|, ref|YP_430668.1|, ref|YP_590553.1|, ref|YP_478499.1|, and ref|YP_001668480.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1482-1486), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1480 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 112 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1582 (RAAC01653) and ref|ZP_00743391.1|, ref|YP_001375561.1|, ref|YP_896056.1|, ref|NP_845992.1|, and ref|ZP_02254866.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1584-1588), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1582 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 113 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 528 (RAAC00430) and ref|YP_001210836.1|, ref|YP_001111557.1|, ref|YP_001485333.1|, ref|NP_240971.1|, and ref|NP_387969.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 530-534), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 528 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 114 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2823 (RAAC02359) and ref|NP_832076.1|, ref|YP_001645033.1|, ref|NP_844759.1|, ref|YP_001375058.1|, and ref|YP_535778.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2825-2829), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2823 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 115 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2279 (RAAC02589) and ref|ZP_00591928.1|, ref|YP_001003150.1|, ref|NP_046614.1|, ref|YP_375842.1|, and ref|YP_001131112.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2281-2285), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2279 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 116 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1412 (RAAC01442) and ref|ZP_02170919.1|, ref|YP_535778.1|, ref|ZP_01862118.1|, ref|NP_692713.1|, and ref|YP_359077.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1414-1418), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1412 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 117 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 69 (RAAC00027) and ref|YP_001213441.1|, ref|NP_244917.1|, ref|YP_001377189.1|, ref YP_149334.1|, and ref|YP_077145.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 71-75), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 69 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 118 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2245 (RAAC02508) and ref|NP_624000.1|, ref|YP_001662406.1|, ref|YP_001664279.1|, ref|YP_001038261.1|, and ref|YP_001394883.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2247-2251), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2245 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 119 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 885 (RAAC00905) and ref|ZP_00739566.1|, ref|NP_830389.1|, ref|YP_001643379.1|, ref|ZP_00237866.1|, and ref|YP_034830.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 887-891), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 885 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 120 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1769 (RAAC01903) and ref|YP_001244333.1|, emb|CAI44346.1|, ref|ZP_02128221.1|, ref|NP_228001.1|, and ref|ZP_02171167.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1771-1775), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1769 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 121 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 987 (RAAC00981) and ref|YP_290547.1|, ref|YP_074752.1|, ref|YP_480150.1|, ref|YP_001509772.1|, and ref|NP_627230.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 989-993), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 987 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 122A and 122B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1004 (RAAC00986) and ref YP_001489923.1|, ref|ZP_01964315.1|, ref|NP_937072.1|, ref|NP_762428.1|, and ref|ZP_01847462.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1006-1010), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1004 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 123A and 123B depict a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 2704 (RAAC03031) and ref|ZP_01170738.1|, ref|ZP_00539543.1|, ref|ZP_02168828.1|, ref|ZP_01856429.1|, and ref|YP_001114416.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2706-2710), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2704 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 124 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1803 (RAAC01956) and pdb|1B4A|A, sp|O31408|ARGR_BACST, ref|ZP_00538558.1|, ref|NP_243643.1|, and ref|YP_001126414.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1805-1809), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1803 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 125 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1497 (RAAC01498) and ref|YP_001127098.1|, ref|YP_148912.1|, ref|ZP_01696601.1|, ref|YP_176517.1|, and ref|ZP_01171675.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1499-1503), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1497 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 126 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1548 (RAAC01624) and ref|YP_090740.1|, ref|YP_078338.1|, ref|NP_243093.1|, ref|YP_001126180.1|, and ref|YP_001422307.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1550-1554), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1548 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 127 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 171 (RAAC00077) and ref|ZP_01696173.1|, ref|ZP_02327860.1|, ref|ZP_00539488.1|, ref|NP_694112.1|, and ref|YP_034511.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 173-177), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 171 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 128 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 851 (RAAC00876) and ref|ZP_02170056.1|, ref|YP_079889.1|, ref|NP_980690.1|, ref|ZP_02257686.1|, and ref|YP_038371.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 853-857), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 851 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 129 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 647 (RAAC00525) and ref|YP_001488458.1|, ref|ZP_01665756.1|, ref|NP_347033.1|, ref|YP_080909.1|, and ref|YP_841318.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 649-653), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 647 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 130 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1089 (RAAC01072) and ref|YP_849514.1|, ref|ZP_02320157.1|, ref|YP_013918.1|, ref|ZP_02330749.1|, and ref|NP_470676.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1091-1095), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1089 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 131 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1310 (RAAC01366) and ref|YP_849898.1|, ref|NP_471127.1|, ref|NP_465208.1|, ref|YP_001124617.1|, and ref|YP_146331.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1312-1316), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1310 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 132 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1378 (RAAC01431) and ref|ZP_01666690.1|, ref|YP_077070.1|, ref|ZP_01173986.1|, ref|YP_814057.1|, and ref|NP_964223.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1380-1384), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1378 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 133 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1514 (RAAC01505) and ref|YP_149084.1|, ref|YP_001127265.1|, ref|YP_074599.1|, ref|YP_001661816.1|, and ref|NP_621898.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1516-1520), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1514 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 134 depicts a sequence alignment (ClustalW) between SEQ ID NO: 1514 (RAAC01505) and ref|YP_149084.1|, ref|YP_001127265.1|, ref|YP_074599.1|, ref|YP_001661816.1|, and ref|NP_621898.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1516-1520), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1514 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 135 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1820 (RAAC01972) and ref|ZP_01171531.1|, ref|YP_001391734.1|, ref|YP_001308325.1|, ref|YP_518781.1|, and ref|YP_001254935.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1822-1826), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1820 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 136 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 154 (RAAC00076) and ref|YP_001488917.1|, ref|YP_079193.1|, ref|NP_241876.1|, ref|YP_174035.1|, and ref|ZP_01169176.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 156-160), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 154 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 137 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1939 (RAAC02144) and ref|ZP_02327651.1|, sp|O32720|SP2AA_PAEPO, ref|NP_833792.1|, ref|NP_846529.1|, and ref|YP_001646701.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1941-1945), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1939 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 138A and 138B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2126 (RAAC02439) and ref|YP_001125957.1|, ref|YP_147806.1|, ref|ZP_01695872.1|, ref|NP_693661.1|, and ref|ZP_01666100.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2128-2132), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2126 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 139 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 970 (RAAC00944) and ref|YP_001488778.1|, ref|YP_174256.1|, ref|YP_081277.1|, ref|YP_711801.1|, and ref|YP_804091.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 972-976), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 970 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 140A and 140B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2313 (RAAC02632) and ref|ZP_01695369.1|, ref|NP_764957.1|, ref|NP_646484.1|, ref|YP_001332652.1|, and ref|NP_372249.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2315-2319), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2313 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 141 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2211 (RAAC02474) and ref|ZP_02329050.1|, ref|YP_148935.1|, gb|AAX09759.1|, ref|YP_001127122.1|, and ref|YP_001376898.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2213-2217), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2211 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 142 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 732 (RAAC00625) and ref|NP_244107.1|, ref|ZP_01188060.1|, ref|YP_176259.1|, ref|YP_148663.1|, and ref|YP_001126805.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 734-738), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 732 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 143 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 800 (RAAC00733) and ref|ZP_01697803.1|, ref|YP_001488326.1|, ref|ZP_01860336.1|, ref|NP_834817.1|, and ref|NP_693386.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 802-806), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 800 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 144 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2194 (RAAC02466) and ref|ZP_01860336.1|, ref|ZP_02327791.1|, ref|NP_244433.1|, ref|ZP_01171669.1|, and ref|YP_001488326.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2196-2200), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2194 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 145 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2398 (RAAC02678) and ref|YP_001124914.1|, ref|YP_146760.1|, ref|YP_001319371.1|, ref|ZP_01723416.1|, and ref|ZP_00742387.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2400-2404), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2398 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 146 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2228 (RAAC02507) and ref|YP_517080.1|, ref|ZP_02185068.1|, ref|YP_001394884.1|, ref|ZP_01574787.1|, and ref|YP_001559227.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2230-2234), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2228 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 147A and 147B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 902 (RAAC00906) and ref|ZP_01667455.1|, ref|ZP_01515931.1|, ref|YP_001430381.1|, ref|YP_001637100.1|, and ref|YP_146183.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 904-908), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 902 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 148 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2364 (RAAC02211) and ref|YP_005108.1|, ref|YP_144769.1|, ref|YP_001124914.1|, ref|YP_001157480.1|, and ref|ZP_01773683.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2366-2370), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2364 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 149A and 149B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1463 (RAAC01489) and ref|ZP_01696335.1|, ref|ZP_01667455.1|, ref|ZP_00739567.1|, ref|YP_001037228.1|, and ref|NP_830390.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1465-1469), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1463 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 150A and 150B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2007 (RAAC02391) and ref|ZP_01697157.1|, ref|YP_001212380.1|, ref|ZP_00539202.1|, ref|NP_693085.1|, and ref|ZP_02329946.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2009-2013), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2007 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 151A and 151B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2551 (RAAC02885) and ref|YP_147095.1|, ref|ZP_01171502.1|, ref|YP_001125215.1|, ref|YP_001486785.1|, and ref|ZP_01861001.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2553-2557), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2551 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 152 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2534 (RAAC02876) and ref|YP_001125206.1|, ref|ZP_01696550.1|, ref|YP_001410204.1|, ref|ZP_01860990.1|, and ref|NP_243310.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2536-2540), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2534 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 153 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1021 (RAAC00987) and ref|YP_001559801.1|, ref|ZP_01696550.1|, ref|YP_753552.1|, ref|NP_243310.1|, and ref|ZP_01725653.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1023-1027), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1021 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 154A and 154B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1990 (RAAC02162) and ref|YP_148131.1|, ref|YP_001126300.1|, ref|YP_079616.1|, ref|NP_390192.1|, and ref|YP_001487274.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1992-1996), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1990 Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 155 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1 (RAAC00012) and ref|YP_907563.1|, ref|YP_955166.1|, ref|ZP_00997175.1|, ref|YP_001133548.1|, and ref|YP_829143.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 3-7), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 156A and 156B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2876 (RAAC02761) and emb|CAG29823.1|, ref|NP_923516.1|, ref|ZP_02329377.1|, gb|EAY57526.1|, and ref|YP_149098.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2878-2882), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2876 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 157 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 579 (RAAC00477) and ref|YP_001377039.1|, ref|NP_244654.1|, ref|YP_001647908.1|, ref|YP_897521.1|, and ref|ZP_00744427.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 581-585), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 579 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 158A and 158B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 35 (RAAC00019) and ref|ZP_02169265.1|, ref|YP_848463.1|, ref|NP_694373.1|, ref|ZP_01695448.1|, and ref|ZP_00539458.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 37-41), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 35 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIG. 159 depicts a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 52 (RAAC00020) and ref|ZP_01169692.1|, ref|ZP_01695449.1|, ref|YP_001127497.1|, ref|YP_149327.1|, and ref|YP_534941.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 54-58), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 52 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 160A and 160B depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1684 (RAAC01715) and gb|EDQ48509.1|, gb|EDQ48476.1|, ref|ZP_01575425.1|, ref|ZP_02025790.1|, and ref|YP_001662047.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1686-1690), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1684 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 161A-161C depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 1157 (RAAC01137) and ref|NP_978751.1|, ref|ZP_00741477.1|, ref|YP_894957.1|, ref|NP_844784.1|, and ref|ZP_02259481.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 1159-1163), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 1157 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

FIGS. 162A-162C depict a sequence alignment between SEQ ID NO: 2910 (RAAC03013) and ref|ZP_02168855.1|, ref|NP_470526.1|, ref|ZP_02320069.1|, ref|ZP_01927122.1|, and ref|YP_013834.1| (SEQ ID NOS: 2912-2916), respectively, which all have the function assigned to SEQ ID NO: 2910 in Table 1. Amino acids conserved among all sequences are indicted by a “*” and generally conserved amino acids are indicated by a “:”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Bacterial DNA codes for information that regulates transcription of genes into mRNA, which codes for proteins or enzymes used for; control of growth, and processing of energy, carbon and other compounds by the cell. Most of these transcriptional regulators/repressors function to turn on and off genes to minimize expenditure of cellular energy in response to their growth environment (i.e., presence of growth substrate, metals, temperature, etc.). This can become a problem related to process development because regulation and control of enzymes for a specific reaction may lead to suboptimal growth or suboptimal production of a desired metabolite (enzyme or compound). The genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius strain ATCC 27009 contains numerous coding sequences for transcriptional regulators and repressors of proteins related to growth, and processing of carbon by the cell. These regulators and repressors may directly affect expression of glycosyl hydrolase and/or esterase enzymes for processing of biomass outside the cell, as well as controlling production of valuable secondary metabolites.

Metabolic engineering through modification (genetic engineering) of these regulatory responses for transcription is one approach for optimization of cellular processes, by way of non-limiting example, Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. Control of these genes will allow for over-expression of desired pathways (e.g., production of glycosyl hydrolases, organic acids or alcohols), or likewise elimination or causing reduced expression of genes leading to undesired pathways or products (e.g., proteins that control transcription of glycosyl hydrolase genes). Control of these genes, or using them as loci for controlling/optimizing carbon processing in organisms, such as, by way of non-limiting example, the thermoacidophile Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius has not been previously attempted using genes and proteins from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius; thereby, making use of transcriptional regulators from this source novel.

Embodiments of the invention include genes and associated proteins related to regulation of growth and metabolism of the thermoacidophile Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. Coding sequences for genes related to these processes were determined from sequence information generated from sequencing the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. These genes and proteins may represent targets for metabolic engineering of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or other organisms. Non-limiting examples of nucleotide sequences found within the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, and amino acids coded thereby, associated with regulation of growth and carbon metabolism are listed in Table 1. Regulators and repressors may be, without limitation, of the following classes: regulators that control growth, including cell division and growth under aerobic and anaerobic conditions; regulators that respond to environmental conditions such as temperature, metal concentration and metabolite concentration; regulators of secondary metabolite pathways such as amino acids, organic acids, alcohols, antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, enzymes related to DNA processing and others; repressors related to carbon processing operons that respond to the presence or absence of organic compounds in the growth environment; signal transduction regulators that control phases of growth and carbon processing; regulators that control the response of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius to its growth environment allowing movement toward carbon sources or biofilm formation on a carbon source; and others.

Embodiments of the invention relate in part to the gene sequences and/or protein sequences comprising genes and/or proteins of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. Genes and proteins included are those which play a role in transcription and transcriptional control. Intracellular enzyme activities may be thermophilic and/or acidophilic in nature and general examples of similar genes are described in the literature. Classes of genes, sequences, enzymes and factors include, but are not limited to, those listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius genes related to transcription and transcriptional regulation Reference Gene Sequence Protein Sequence Function RAAC00012 SEQ ID NO: 2 SEQ ID NO: 1 C4-dicarboxylate transport protein RAAC00013 SEQ ID NO: 19 SEQ ID NO: 18 Transcriptional regulators, LysR family RAAC00019 SEQ ID NO: 36 SEQ ID NO: 35 Two-component sensor kinase yycG RAAC00020 SEQ ID NO: 53 SEQ ID NO: 52 Two-component response regulator yycF RAAC00027 SEQ ID NO: 70 SEQ ID NO: 69 Single-strand DNA binding protein RAAC00039 SEQ ID NO: 87 SEQ ID NO: 86 Stage 0 sporulation protein J RAAC00040 SEQ ID NO: 104 SEQ ID NO: 103 Chromosome partitioning protein parA RAAC00045 SEQ ID NO: 121 SEQ ID NO: 120 Jag protein RAAC00068 SEQ ID NO: 138 SEQ ID NO: 137 Transcriptional regulator, GntR family RAAC00076 SEQ ID NO: 155 SEQ ID NO: 154 Trp repressor binding protein RAAC00077 SEQ ID NO: 172 SEQ ID NO: 171 Gluconate operon transcriptional repressor RAAC00092 SEQ ID NO: 189 SEQ ID NO: 188 Prespore specific transcriptional activator rsfA RAAC00113 SEQ ID NO: 206 SEQ ID NO: 205 Cell-division initiation protein DivIB RAAC00117 SEQ ID NO: 223 SEQ ID NO: 222 Cell division protein ftsA RAAC00118 SEQ ID NO: 240 SEQ ID NO: 239 Cell division protein ftsZ RAAC00120 SEQ ID NO: 257 SEQ ID NO: 256 RNA polymerase sigma-E factor RAAC00121 SEQ ID NO: 274 SEQ ID NO: 273 RNA polymerase sigma-G factor RAAC00134 SEQ ID NO: 291 SEQ ID NO: 290 Pyrimidine operon regulatory protein pyrR RAAC00147 SEQ ID NO: 308 SEQ ID NO: 307 DNA-directed RNA polymerase omega chain RAAC00161 SEQ ID NO: 325 SEQ ID NO: 324 Small acid-soluble spore protein RAAC00212 SEQ ID NO: 342 SEQ ID NO: 341 Transcription state regulatory protein abrB RAAC00215 SEQ ID NO: 359 SEQ ID NO: 358 Phosphorelay inhibitor RAAC00269 SEQ ID NO: 376 SEQ ID NO: 375 Transcriptional regulator, LacI family RAAC00349 SEQ ID NO: 393 SEQ ID NO: 392 Transcriptional regulator, AsnC family RAAC00354 SEQ ID NO: 410 SEQ ID NO: 409 Transcriptional regulator, TetR family RAAC00365 SEQ ID NO: 427 SEQ ID NO: 426 N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase RAAC00371 SEQ ID NO: 444 SEQ ID NO: 443 DNA-directed RNA polymerase alpha chain RAAC00407 SEQ ID NO: 461 SEQ ID NO: 460 DNA-directed RNA polymerase beta′ chain RAAC00408 SEQ ID NO: 478 SEQ ID NO: 477 DNA-directed RNA polymerase beta chain RAAC00415 SEQ ID NO: 495 SEQ ID NO: 494 Transcription antitermination protein nusG RAAC00418 SEQ ID NO: 512 SEQ ID NO: 511 RNA polymerase sigma-H factor RAAC00430 SEQ ID NO: 529 SEQ ID NO: 528 DNA-binding protein RAAC00436 SEQ ID NO: 546 SEQ ID NO: 545 Transcriptional regulator ctsR RAAC00475 SEQ ID NO: 563 SEQ ID NO: 562 Transcription termination factor rho RAAC00477 SEQ ID NO: 580 SEQ ID NO: 579 Sporulation initiation phosphotransferase F RAAC00480 SEQ ID NO: 597 SEQ ID NO: 596 DNA-directed RNA polymerase delta chain RAAC00483 SEQ ID NO: 614 SEQ ID NO: 613 Regulator of kinase autophosphorylation inhibitor RAAC00484 SEQ ID NO: 631 SEQ ID NO: 630 Kinase autophosphorylation inhibitor kipI RAAC00525 SEQ ID NO: 648 SEQ ID NO: 647 Kdg operon repressor RAAC00549 SEQ ID NO: 665 SEQ ID NO: 664 Transcriptional regulator, MerR family RAAC00570 SEQ ID NO: 682 SEQ ID NO: 681 Transcriptional regulator, LacI family RAAC00579 SEQ ID NO: 699 SEQ ID NO: 698 Transcriptional regulator, ArsR family RAAC00603 SEQ ID NO: 716 SEQ ID NO: 715 Transcriptional regulator, ArsR family RAAC00625 SEQ ID NO: 733 SEQ ID NO: 732 Catabolite control protein A RAAC00643 SEQ ID NO: 750 SEQ ID NO: 749 Small acid-soluble spore protein RAAC00650 SEQ ID NO: 767 SEQ ID NO: 766 Glycosyltransferase RAAC00675 SEQ ID NO: 784 SEQ ID NO: 783 Transcriptional regulator RAAC00733 SEQ ID NO: 801 SEQ ID NO: 800 Catabolite repression protein crh RAAC00856 SEQ ID NO: 818 SEQ ID NO: 817 RNA polymerase sigma-K factor RAAC00872 SEQ ID NO: 835 SEQ ID NO: 834 Spore protease RAAC00876 SEQ ID NO: 852 SEQ ID NO: 851 Heat-inducible transcription repressor hrcA RAAC00896 SEQ ID NO: 869 SEQ ID NO: 868 RNA polymerase sigma factor rpoD RAAC00905 SEQ ID NO: 886 SEQ ID NO: 885 Two-component response regulator RAAC00906 SEQ ID NO: 903 SEQ ID NO: 902 Two component system histidine kinase RAAC00923 SEQ ID NO: 920 SEQ ID NO: 919 Small acid-soluble spore protein RAAC00927 SEQ ID NO: 937 SEQ ID NO: 936 Transcriptional regulator, MarR family RAAC00935 SEQ ID NO: 954 SEQ ID NO: 953 Transcriptional regulator, MarR family RAAC00944 SEQ ID NO: 971 SEQ ID NO: 970 Transcriptional activator tenA RAAC00981 SEQ ID NO: 988 SEQ ID NO: 987 Two-component response regulator RAAC00986 SEQ ID NO: 1005 SEQ ID NO: 1004 Two-component response regulator RAAC00987 SEQ ID NO: 1022 SEQ ID NO: 1021 Chemotaxis protein cheY RAAC00991 SEQ ID NO: 1039 SEQ ID NO: 1038 Glycosyltransferase RAAC01035 SEQ ID NO: 1056 SEQ ID NO: 1055 Transcriptional regulator, GntR family RAAC01059 SEQ ID NO: 1073 SEQ ID NO: 1072 Transcriptional regulator, TetR family RAAC01072 SEQ ID NO: 1090 SEQ ID NO: 1089 Repressor LexA RAAC01078 SEQ ID NO: 1107 SEQ ID NO: 1106 Ribose operon repressor RAAC01080 SEQ ID NO: 1124 SEQ ID NO: 1123 Transcriptional regulator, MerR family RAAC01126 SEQ ID NO: 1141 SEQ ID NO: 1140 Transcriptional regulator, TetR family RAAC01137 SEQ ID NO: 1158 SEQ ID NO: 1157 Transporter, MMPL family RAAC01138 SEQ ID NO: 1175 SEQ ID NO: 1174 Transcriptional regulator, TetR family RAAC01158 SEQ ID NO: 1192 SEQ ID NO: 1191 Transcriptional regulator, GntR family RAAC01353 SEQ ID NO: 1294 SEQ ID NO: 1293 Transcriptional regulator, IclR family RAAC01366 SEQ ID NO: 1311 SEQ ID NO: 1310 Peroxide operon regulator RAAC01375 SEQ ID NO: 1328 SEQ ID NO: 1327 Transcriptional regulators, LysR family RAAC01377 SEQ ID NO: 1345 SEQ ID NO: 1344 Glycosyltransferase RAAC01427 SEQ ID NO: 1362 SEQ ID NO: 1361 SspF protein RAAC01431 SEQ ID NO: 1379 SEQ ID NO: 1378 Pur operon repressor RAAC01438 SEQ ID NO: 1396 SEQ ID NO: 1395 Transcription-repair coupling factor RAAC01442 SEQ ID NO: 1413 SEQ ID NO: 1412 DNA-binding protein HU RAAC01464 SEQ ID NO: 1430 SEQ ID NO: 1429 Transcriptional regulator, Xre family RAAC01465 SEQ ID NO: 1447 SEQ ID NO: 1446 Transcription elongation factor greA RAAC01489 SEQ ID NO: 1464 SEQ ID NO: 1463 Two component system histidine kinase RAAC01493 SEQ ID NO: 1481 SEQ ID NO: 1480 Transcriptional regulators, LysR family RAAC01498 SEQ ID NO: 1498 SEQ ID NO: 1497 Central glycolytic genes regulator RAAC01505 SEQ ID NO: 1515 SEQ ID NO: 1514 Ribose operon repressor RAAC01563 SEQ ID NO: 1532 SEQ ID NO: 1531 Sporulation kinase D RAAC01624 SEQ ID NO: 1549 SEQ ID NO: 1548 Ebg operon repressor RAAC01638 SEQ ID NO: 1566 SEQ ID NO: 1565 Transcriptional regulator, TetR family RAAC01653 SEQ ID NO: 1583 SEQ ID NO: 1582 Transcriptional regulators, LysR family RAAC01655 SEQ ID NO: 1600 SEQ ID NO: 1599 Transcriptional regulator RAAC01657 SEQ ID NO: 1617 SEQ ID NO: 1616 Pyruvate dehydrogenase (acetyl-transferring) RAAC01658 SEQ ID NO: 1634 SEQ ID NO: 1633 Pyruvate dehydrogenase (acetyl-transferring) RAAC01659 SEQ ID NO: 1651 SEQ ID NO: 1650 Dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase RAAC01701 SEQ ID NO: 1668 SEQ ID NO: 1667 Transcriptional regulator, MarR family RAAC01715 SEQ ID NO: 1685 SEQ ID NO: 1684 Two-component response regulator yesN RAAC01745 SEQ ID NO: 1702 SEQ ID NO: 1701 Pyruvate dehydrogenase (acetyl-transferring) RAAC01746 SEQ ID NO: 1719 SEQ ID NO: 1718 Pyruvate dehydrogenase (acetyl-transferring) RAAC01814 SEQ ID NO: 1736 SEQ ID NO: 1735 RNA polymerase sigma-K factor RAAC01826 SEQ ID NO: 1753 SEQ ID NO: 1752 RNA polymerase ECF-type sigma factor RAAC01903 SEQ ID NO: 1770 SEQ ID NO: 1769 Two-component response regulator RAAC01912 SEQ ID NO: 1787 SEQ ID NO: 1786 Transcriptional regulator, DeoR family RAAC01956 SEQ ID NO: 1804 SEQ ID NO: 1803 Arginine repressor, argR RAAC01972 SEQ ID NO: 1821 SEQ ID NO: 1820 Transcription pleiotropic repressor codY RAAC02012 SEQ ID NO: 1838 SEQ ID NO: 1837 Transcriptional regulator, LytR family RAAC02031 SEQ ID NO: 1855 SEQ ID NO: 1854 Transcriptional regulator, GntR family RAAC02034 SEQ ID NO: 1872 SEQ ID NO: 1871 Germination protein gerE RAAC02041 SEQ ID NO: 1889 SEQ ID NO: 1888 Transcriptional regulator, MarR family RAAC02112 SEQ ID NO: 1906 SEQ ID NO: 1905 N utilization substance protein B RAAC02142 SEQ ID NO: 1923 SEQ ID NO: 1922 Serine-type D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidase RAAC02144 SEQ ID NO: 1940 SEQ ID NO: 1939 Anti-sigma F factor antagonist RAAC02146 SEQ ID NO: 1957 SEQ ID NO: 1956 RNA polymerase sigma-F factor RAAC02161 SEQ ID NO: 1974 SEQ ID NO: 1973 Transcriptional regulatory protein resD RAAC02162 SEQ ID NO: 1991 SEQ ID NO: 1990 Sensor protein resE RAAC02391 SEQ ID NO: 2008 SEQ ID NO: 2007 Phosphate regulon sensor protein phoR RAAC02417 SEQ ID NO: 2025 SEQ ID NO: 2024 Transcriptional regulator, Cro/CI family RAAC02421 SEQ ID NO: 2042 SEQ ID NO: 2041 Glycosyltransferase RAAC02426 SEQ ID NO: 2059 SEQ ID NO: 2058 Pyruvate dehydrogenase (acetyl-transferring) RAAC02427 SEQ ID NO: 2076 SEQ ID NO: 2075 Pyruvate dehydrogenase (acetyl-transferring) RAAC02428 SEQ ID NO: 2093 SEQ ID NO: 2092 Dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase RAAC02432 SEQ ID NO: 2110 SEQ ID NO: 2109 Transcriptional regulator, IclR family RAAC02439 SEQ ID NO: 2127 SEQ ID NO: 2126 Sigma-54-dependent transcriptional activator RAAC02454 SEQ ID NO: 2144 SEQ ID NO: 2143 Prespore specific transcriptional activator rsfA RAAC02459 SEQ ID NO: 2161 SEQ ID NO: 2160 Transcriptional regulator, GntR family RAAC02164 SEQ ID NO: 2178 SEQ ID NO: 2177 SIR2 family protein RAAC02466 SEQ ID NO: 2195 SEQ ID NO: 2194 Catabolite repression protein crh RAAC02474 SEQ ID NO: 2212 SEQ ID NO: 2211 Hpr(ser) Kinase/Phosphatase RAAC02507 SEQ ID NO: 2229 SEQ ID NO: 2228 Two component system histidine kinase RAAC02508 SEQ ID NO: 2246 SEQ ID NO: 2245 Two-component response regulator RAAC02546 SEQ ID NO: 2263 SEQ ID NO: 2262 RNA polymerase sigma-H factor RAAC02589 SEQ ID NO: 2280 SEQ ID NO: 2279 DNA-binding protein HU RAAC02603 SEQ ID NO: 2297 SEQ ID NO: 2296 Transcription state regulatory protein abrB RAAC02632 SEQ ID NO: 2314 SEQ ID NO: 2313 Hpr(ser) Kinase/Phosphatase RAAC02663 SEQ ID NO: 2331 SEQ ID NO: 2330 Transcriptional regulator, GntR family RAAC02671 SEQ ID NO: 2348 SEQ ID NO: 2347 Transcriptional regulator, MerR family RAAC02211 SEQ ID NO: 2365 SEQ ID NO: 2364 Two component system histidine kinase RAAC02673 SEQ ID NO: 2382 SEQ ID NO: 2381 Glycerol uptake operon antiterminator regulatory protein RAAC02678 SEQ ID NO: 2399 SEQ ID NO: 2398 Two component system histidine kinase RAAC02712 SEQ ID NO: 2416 SEQ ID NO: 2415 Transcriptional regulator, TetR family RAAC02227 SEQ ID NO: 2518 SEQ ID NO: 2517 Serine-type D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidase RAAC02876 SEQ ID NO: 2535 SEQ ID NO: 2534 Chemotaxis protein cheY RAAC02885 SEQ ID NO: 2552 SEQ ID NO: 2551 Chemotaxis protein cheA RAAC02902 SEQ ID NO: 2569 SEQ ID NO: 2568 N utilization substance protein A RAAC02968 SEQ ID NO: 2603 SEQ ID NO: 2602 RNA polymerase sigma-H factor RAAC02984 SEQ ID NO: 2620 SEQ ID NO: 2619 Arginine utilization regulatory protein rocR RAAC02994 SEQ ID NO: 2637 SEQ ID NO: 2636 Arginine utilization regulatory protein rocR RAAC03005 SEQ ID NO: 2654 SEQ ID NO: 2653 Transcriptional regulator, GntR family RAAC02241 SEQ ID NO: 2671 SEQ ID NO: 2670 Transcriptional regulator, MarR family RAAC03015 SEQ ID NO: 2688 SEQ ID NO: 2687 Serine-type D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidase RAAC03031 SEQ ID NO: 2705 SEQ ID NO: 2704 Two-component response regulator RAAC03156 SEQ ID NO: 2722 SEQ ID NO: 2721 Transcriptional regulator, ArsR family RAAC03180 SEQ ID NO: 2739 SEQ ID NO: 2738 Transcriptional regulator, Cro/CI family RAAC03184 SEQ ID NO: 2756 SEQ ID NO: 2755 Transcriptional regulator RAAC03236 SEQ ID NO: 2773 SEQ ID NO: 2772 Transcription state regulatory protein abrB RAAC02292 SEQ ID NO: 2790 SEQ ID NO: 2789 Transcriptional regulator RAAC02315 SEQ ID NO: 2807 SEQ ID NO: 2806 Chromosome partitioning protein parA RAAC02359 SEQ ID NO: 2824 SEQ ID NO: 2823 DNA-binding protein HU RAAC02381 SEQ ID NO: 2841 SEQ ID NO: 2840 Glycosyltransferase SEQ ID NO: 2857 Catabolite-responsive element SEQ ID NO: 2858 Catabolite responsive element RAAC02740 SEQ ID NO: 2860 SEQ ID NO: 2859 Transcriptional regulator RAAC02761 SEQ ID NO: 2877 SEQ ID NO: 2876 Sensor protein kdpD RAAC02937 SEQ ID NO: 2894 SEQ ID NO: 2893 Transcriptional regulator RAAC03013 SEQ ID NO: 2911 SEQ ID NO: 2910 Transporter, MMPL family RAAC03263 SEQ ID NO: 2928 SEQ ID NO: 2927 RNA polymerase sigma-H factor

The present invention relates to nucleotides sequences comprising isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius selected from the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 or one of their fragments.

The present invention likewise relates to isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences, characterized in that they comprise at least one of: a) a nucleotide sequence of at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 or one of their fragments; b) a nucleotide sequence homologous to a nucleotide sequence such as defined in a); c) a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence such as defined in a) or b), and a nucleotide sequence of their corresponding RNA; d) a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions with a sequence such as defined in a), b) or c); e) a nucleotide sequence comprising a sequence such as defined in a), b), c) or d); and f) a nucleotide sequence modified by a nucleotide sequence such as defined in a), b), c), d) or e).

Nucleotide, polynucleotide, or nucleic acid sequence will be understood according to the present invention as meaning both a double-stranded or single-stranded DNA in the monomeric and dimeric (so-called in tandem) forms and the transcription products of the DNAs.

Aspects of the invention relate to nucleotide sequences in which it has been possible to isolate, purify or partially purify, starting from separation methods such as, for example, ion-exchange chromatography, by exclusion based on molecular size, or by affinity, or, alternatively, fractionation techniques based on solubility in different solvents, or starting from methods of genetic engineering such as amplification, cloning, and subcloning, it being possible for the sequences of the invention to be carried by vectors.

Isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequence fragment according to the invention will be understood as designating any nucleotide fragment of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, and may include, by way of non-limiting example, a length of at least 8, 12, 20 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, or more, consecutive nucleotides of the sequence from which it originates.

Specific fragment of an isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequence according to the invention will be understood as designating any nucleotide fragment of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, having, after alignment and comparison with the corresponding fragments of genomic sequences of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, at least one nucleotide or base of different nature.

Homologous isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequence in the sense of the present invention is understood as meaning an isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequence having at least a percentage identity with the bases of a nucleotide sequence according to the invention of at least about 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.6%, or 99.7%, this percentage being purely statistical and it being possible to distribute the differences between the two nucleotide sequences at random and over the whole of their length.

Specific homologous nucleotide sequence in the sense of the present invention is understood as meaning a homologous nucleotide sequence having at least one nucleotide sequence of a specific fragment, such as defined above. The “specific” homologous sequences can comprise, for example, the sequences corresponding to the genomic sequence or to the sequences of its fragments representative of variants of the genome of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. These specific homologous sequences can thus correspond to variations linked to mutations within strains of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, and especially correspond to truncations, substitutions, deletions and/or additions of at least one nucleotide. The homologous sequences can likewise correspond to variations linked to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

The term “degree or percentage of sequence homology” refers to “degree or percentage of sequence identity between two sequences after optimal alignment” as defined in the present application.

Two amino-acids or nucleotidic sequences are said to be “identical” if the sequence of amino-acids or nucleotidic residues, in the two sequences is the same when aligned for maximum correspondence as described below. Sequence comparisons between two (or more) peptides or polynucleotides are typically performed by comparing sequences of two optimally aligned sequences over a segment or “comparison window” to identify and compare local regions of sequence similarity. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison may be conducted by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman, Ad. App. Math 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Neddleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.) 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementation of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group (GCG), 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by visual inspection.

“Percentage of sequence identity” (or degree of identity) is determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a comparison window, where the portion of the peptide or polynucleotide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical amino-acid residue or nucleic acid base occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity.

The definition of sequence identity given above is the definition that would be used by one of skill in the art. The definition by itself does not need the help of any algorithm, the algorithms being helpful only to achieve the optimal alignments of sequences, rather than the calculation of sequence identity.

From the definition given above, it follows that there is a well-defined and only one value for the sequence identity between two compared sequences, which value corresponds to the value obtained for the best or optimal alignment.

In the BLAST N or BLAST P “BLAST 2 sequence” software, which is available at the web site ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gorf/bl2.html, and habitually used by the inventors and in general by the skilled person for comparing and determining the identity between two sequences, gap cost which depends on the sequence length to be compared is directly selected by the software (i.e., 11.2 for substitution matrix BLOSUM-62 for length >85).

Complementary nucleotide sequence of a sequence of the invention is understood as meaning any DNA whose nucleotides are complementary to those of the sequence of the invention, and whose orientation is reversed (antisense sequence).

Hybridization under conditions of stringency with a nucleotide sequence according to the invention is understood as meaning hybridization under conditions of temperature and ionic strength chosen in such a way that they allow the maintenance of the hybridization between two fragments of complementary DNA.

By way of illustration, conditions of great stringency of the hybridization step with the aim of defining the nucleotide fragments described above are advantageously the following.

The hybridization is carried out at a preferential temperature of 65° C. in the presence of SSC buffer, 1×SSC corresponding to 0.15 M NaCl and 0.05 M Na citrate. The washing steps, for example, can be the following: 2×SSC, at ambient temperature followed by two washes with 2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 65° C.; 2×0.5×SSC, 0.5% SDS; at 65° C. for 10 minutes each.

The conditions of intermediate stringency, using, for example, a temperature of 42° C. in the presence of a 2×SSC buffer, or of less stringency, for example, a temperature of 37° C. in the presence of a 2×SSC buffer, respectively require a globally less significant complementarity for the hybridization between the two sequences.

The stringent hybridization conditions described above for a polynucleotide with a size of approximately 350 bases will be adapted by a person skilled in the art for oligonucleotides of greater or smaller size, according to the teachings of Sambrook et al., 1989.

Among the isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences according to the invention, are those that can be used as a primer or probe in methods allowing the homologous sequences according to the invention to be obtained, these methods, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleic acid cloning, and sequencing, being well known to a person skilled in the art.

Among the isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences according to the invention, those are again preferred that can be used as a primer or probe in methods allowing the presence of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928, one of their fragments, or one of their variants such as defined below to be diagnosed.

The nucleotide sequence fragments according to the invention can be obtained, for example, by specific amplification, such as PCR, or after digestion with appropriate restriction enzymes of nucleotide sequences according to the invention, these methods in particular being described in the work of Sambrook et al., 1989. Such representative fragments can likewise be obtained by chemical synthesis according to methods well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

Modified nucleotide sequence will be understood as meaning any nucleotide sequence obtained by mutagenesis according to techniques well known to a person skilled in the art, and containing modifications with respect to the normal sequences according to the invention, for example, mutations in the regulatory and/or promoter sequences of polypeptide expression, especially leading to a modification of the rate of expression of the polypeptide or to a modulation of the replicative cycle.

Modified nucleotide sequence will likewise be understood as meaning any nucleotide sequence coding for a modified polypeptide, such as defined below.

The present invention relates to nucleotide sequence comprising isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, characterized in that they are selected from the sequences SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 or one of their fragments.

Embodiments of the invention likewise relate to isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences characterized in that they comprise a nucleotide sequence selected from: a) at least one of a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 or one of their fragments; b) a nucleotide sequence of a specific fragment of a sequence such as defined in a); c) a homologous nucleotide sequence having at least 80% identity with a sequence such as defined in a) or b); d) a complementary nucleotide sequence or sequence of RNA corresponding to a sequence such as defined in a), b) or c); and e) a nucleotide sequence modified by a sequence such as defined in a), b), c) or d).

Among the isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences according to the invention are the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 13-17, 30-34, 47-51, 64-68, 81-85, 98-102, 115-119, 132-136, 149-153, 166-170, 183-187, 200-204, 217-221, 234-238, 251-255, 268-272, 285-289, 302-306, 319-323, 336-340, 353-357, 370-374, 387-391, 404-408, 421-425, 438-442, 455-459, 472-476, 489-493, 506-510, 523-527, 540-544, 557-561, 574-578, 591-595, 608-612, 625-629, 642-646, 659-663, 676-680, 693-697, 710-714, 727-731, 744-748, 761-765, 778-782, 795-799, 812-816, 829-833, 846-850, 863-867, 880-884, 897-901, 914-918, 931-935, 948-952, 965-969, 982-986, 999-1003, 1016-1020, 1033-1037, 1050-1054, 1067-1071, 1084-1088, 1101-1105, 1118-1122, 1135-1139, 1152-1156, 1169-1173, 1186-1190, 1203-1207, 1305-1309, 1322-1326, 1339-1343, 1356-1360, 1373-1377, 1390-1394, 1407-1411, 1424-1428, 1441-1445, 1458-1462, 1475-1479, 1492-1496, 1509-1513, 1526-1530, 1543-1547, 1560-1564, 1577-1581, 1594-1598, 1611-1615, 1628-1632, 1645-1649, 1662-1666, 1679-1683, 1696-1700, 1713-1717, 1730-1734, 1747-1751, 1764-1768, 1781-1785, 1798-1802, 1815-1819, 1832-1836, 1849-1853, 1866-1870, 1883-1887, 1900-1904, 1917-1921, 1934-1938, 1951-1955, 1968-1972, 1985-1989, 2002-2006, 2019-2023, 2036-2040, 2053-2057, 2070-2074, 2087-2091, 2104-2108, 2121-2125, 2138-2142, 2155-2159, 2172-2176, 2189-2193, 2206-2210, 2223-2227, 2240-2244, 2257-2261, 2274-2278, 2291-2295, 2308-2312, 2325-2329, 2342-2346, 2359-2363, 2376-2380, 2393-2397, 2410-2414, 2427-2431, 2529-2533, 2546-2550, 2563-2567, 2580-2584, 2614-2618, 2631-2635, 2648-2652, 2665-2669, 2682-2686, 2699-2703, 2716-2720, 2733-2737, 2750-2754, 2767-2771, 2784-2788, 2801-2805, 2818-2822, 2835-2839, 2852-2856, 2878-2882, 2888-2892, 2905-2909, 2922-2926, and 2939-2943, or fragments thereof and any isolated and/or purified nucleotide sequences which have a homology of at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.6%, or 99.7% identity with the at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 or fragments thereof. The homologous sequences can comprise, for example, the sequences corresponding to the genomic sequences Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. In the same manner, these specific homologous sequences can correspond to variations linked to mutations within strains of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and especially correspond to truncations, substitutions, deletions and/or additions of at least one nucleotide. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, such homologues are easily created and identified using standard techniques and publicly available computer programs such as BLAST. As such, each homologue referenced above should be considered as set forth herein and fully described.

Embodiments of the invention comprise the isolated and/or purified polypeptides coded for by a nucleotide sequence according to the invention, or fragments thereof, whose sequence is represented by a fragment. Amino acid sequences corresponding to the isolated and/or purified polypeptides which can be coded for according to one of the three possible reading frames of at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928.

Embodiments of the invention likewise relate to the isolated and/or purified polypeptides, characterized in that they comprise a polypeptide selected from at least one of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 or one of their fragments.

Among the isolated and/or purified polypeptides, according to embodiments of the invention, are the isolated and/or purified polypeptides of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NOS: 8-12, 25-29, 42-46, 59-63, 76-80, 93-97, 110-114, 127-131, 144-148, 161-165, 178-182, 195-199, 212-216, 229-233, 246-250, 263-267, 280-284, 297-301, 314-318, 331-335, 348-352, 365-369, 382-386, 399-403, 416-420, 433-437, 450-454, 467-471, 484-488, 501-505, 518-522, 535-539, 552-556, 569-573, 586-590, 603-607, 620-624, 637-641, 654-658, 671-675, 688-692, 705-709, 722-726, 739-743, 756-760, 773-777, 790-794, 807-811, 824-828, 841-845, 858-862, 875-879, 892-896, 909-913, 926-930, 943-947, 960-964, 977-981, 994-998, 1011-1015, 1028-1032, 1045-1049, 1062-1066, 1079-1083, 1096-1100, 1113-1117, 1130-1134, 1147-1151, 1164-1168, 1181-1185, 1198-1202, 1300-1304, 1317-1321, 1334-1338, 1351-1355, 1368-1372, 1385-1389, 1402-1406, 1419-1423, 1436-1440, 1453-1457, 1470-1474, 1487-1491, 1504-1508, 1521-1525, 1538-1542, 1555-1559, 1572-1576, 1589-1593, 1606-1610, 1623-1627, 1640-1644, 1657-1661, 1674-1678, 1691-1695, 1708-1712, 1725-1729, 1742-1746, 1759-1763, 1776-1780, 1793-1797, 1810-1814, 1827-1831, 1844-1848, 1861-1865, 1878-1882, 1895-1899, 1912-1916, 1929-1933, 1946-1950, 1963-1967, 1980-1984, 1997-2001, 2014-2018, 2031-2035, 2048-2052, 2065-2069, 2082-2086, 2099-2103, 2116-2120, 2133-2137, 2150-2154, 2167-2171, 2184-2188, 2201-2205, 2218-2222, 2235-2239, 2252-2256, 2269-2273, 2286-2290, 2303-2307, 2320-2324, 2337-2341, 2354-2358, 2371-2375, 2388-2392, 2405-2409, 2422-2426, 2524-2528, 2541-2545, 2558-2562, 2575-2579, 2609-2613, 2626-2630, 2643-2647, 2660-2664, 2677-2681, 2694-2698, 2711-2715, 2728-2732, 2745-2749, 2762-2766, 2779-2783, 2796-2800, 2813-2817, 2830-2834, 2847-2851, 2866-2870, 2883-2887, 2900-2914, 2917-2921, and 2934-2938, or fragments thereof or any other isolated and/or purified polypeptides which have a homology of at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.6%, or 99.7% identity with at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 or fragments thereof. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, such homologues are easily created and identified using standard techniques and publicly available computer programs such as BLAST. As such, each homologue referenced above should be considered as set forth herein and fully described.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to the polypeptides, characterized in that they comprise a polypeptide selected from: a) a specific fragment of at least 5 amino acids of a polypeptide of an amino acid sequence according to the invention; b) a polypeptide homologous to a polypeptide such as defined in a); c) a specific biologically active fragment of a polypeptide such as defined in a) or b); and d) a polypeptide modified by a polypeptide such as defined in a), b) or c).

In the present description, the terms polypeptide, peptide and protein are interchangeable.

In embodiments of the invention, the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention may be glycosylated, pegylated, and/or otherwise post-translationally modified. In further embodiments, glycosylation, pegylation, and/or other post-translational modifications may occur in vivo or in vitro and/or may be performed using chemical techniques. In additional embodiments, any glycosylation, pegylation and/or other post-translational modifications may be N-linked or O-linked.

In embodiments of the invention any one of the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention may be enzymatically or functionally active at temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or may be enzymatically or functionally active at a pH at, below, and/or above 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0. In further embodiments of the invention, glycosylation, pegylation, and/or other post-translational modification may be required for the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention to be enzymatically or functionally active at a pH at or below 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0 or at temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius.

Aspects of the invention relate to polypeptides that are isolated or obtained by purification from natural sources, or else obtained by genetic recombination, or alternatively by chemical synthesis and that they may thus contain unnatural amino acids, as will be described below.

A “polypeptide fragment” according to the embodiments of the invention is understood as designating a polypeptide containing at least 5 consecutive amino acids, preferably 10 consecutive amino acids or 15 consecutive amino acids.

In the present invention, a specific polypeptide fragment is understood as designating the consecutive polypeptide fragment coded for by a specific fragment nucleotide sequence according to the invention.

“Homologous polypeptide” will be understood as designating the polypeptides having, with respect to the natural polypeptide, certain modifications such as, in particular, a deletion, addition, or substitution of at least one amino acid, a truncation, a prolongation, a chimeric fusion, and/or a mutation. Among the homologous polypeptides, those are preferred whose amino acid sequence has at least 80% or 90%, homology with the sequences of amino acids of polypeptides according to the invention.

“Specific homologous polypeptide” will be understood as designating the homologous polypeptides such as defined above and having a specific fragment of polypeptide according to the invention.

In the case of a substitution, one or more consecutive or nonconsecutive amino acids are replaced by “equivalent” amino acids. The expression “equivalent” amino acid is directed here at designating any amino acid capable of being substituted by one of the amino acids of the base structure without, however, essentially modifying the biological activities of the corresponding peptides and such that they will be defined by the following. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, such substitutions are easily created and identified using standard molecular biology techniques and publicly available computer programs such as BLAST. As such, each substitution referenced above should be considered as set forth herein and fully described. Examples of such substitutions in the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 may include those isolated and/or purified polypeptides of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NOS: 8-12, 25-29, 42-46, 59-63, 76-80, 93-97, 110-114, 127-131, 144-148, 161-165, 178-182, 195-199, 212-216, 229-233, 246-250, 263-267, 280-284, 297-301, 314-318, 331-335, 348-352, 365-369, 382-386, 399-403, 416-420, 433-437, 450-454, 467-471, 484-488, 501-505, 518-522, 535-539, 552-556, 569-573, 586-590, 603-607, 620-624, 637-641, 654-658, 671-675, 688-692, 705-709, 722-726, 739-743, 756-760, 773-777, 790-794, 807-811, 824-828, 841-845, 858-862, 875-879, 892-896, 909-913, 926-930, 943-947, 960-964, 977-981, 994-998, 1011-1015, 1028-1032, 1045-1049, 1062-1066, 1079-1083, 1096-1100, 1113-1117, 1130-1134, 1147-1151, 1164-1168, 1181-1185, 1198-1202, 1300-1304, 1317-1321, 1334-1338, 1351-1355, 1368-1372, 1385-1389, 1402-1406, 1419-1423, 1436-1440, 1453-1457, 1470-1474, 1487-1491, 1504-1508, 1521-1525, 1538-1542, 1555-1559, 1572-1576, 1589-1593, 1606-1610, 1623-1627, 1640-1644, 1657-1661, 1674-1678, 1691-1695, 1708-1712, 1725-1729, 1742-1746, 1759-1763, 1776-1780, 1793-1797, 1810-1814, 1827-1831, 1844-1848, 1861-1865, 1878-1882, 1895-1899, 1912-1916, 1929-1933, 1946-1950, 1963-1967, 1980-1984, 1997-2001, 2014-2018, 2031-2035, 2048-2052, 2065-2069, 2082-2086, 2099-2103, 2116-2120, 2133-2137, 2150-2154, 2167-2171, 2184-2188, 2201-2205, 2218-2222, 2235-2239, 2252-2256, 2269-2273, 2286-2290, 2303-2307, 2320-2324, 2337-2341, 2354-2358, 2371-2375, 2388-2392, 2405-2409, 2422-2426, 2524-2528, 2541-2545, 2558-2562, 2575-2579, 2609-2613, 2626-2630, 2643-2647, 2660-2664, 2677-2681, 2694-2698, 2711-2715, 2728-2732, 2745-2749, 2762-2766, 2779-2783, 2796-2800, 2813-2817, 2830-2834, 2847-2851, 2866-2870, 2883-2887, 2900-2914, 2917-2921, and 2934-2938.

These equivalent amino acids can be determined either by depending on their structural homology with the amino acids, which they substitute, or on results of comparative tests of biological activity between the different polypeptides, which are capable of being carried out.

By way of non-limiting example, the possibilities of substitutions capable of being carried out without resulting in an extensive modification of the biological activity of the corresponding modified polypeptides will be mentioned, the replacement, for example, of leucine by valine or isoleucine, of aspartic acid by glutamic acid, of glutamine by asparagine, of arginine by lysine, etc., the reverse substitutions naturally being envisageable under the same conditions.

In a further embodiment, substitutions are limited to substitutions in amino acids not conserved among other proteins which have similar identified activity. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art may align proteins of the same function in similar organisms and determine which amino acids are generally conserved among proteins of that function. One example of a program that may be used to generate such alignments is available at the website charite.de/bioinf/strap/ in conjunction with the databases provided by the NCBI. Examples of such polypeptides may include, but are not limited to, those found in amino acid sequence SEQ ID NOS: 8-12, 25-29, 42-46, 59-63, 76-80, 93-97, 110-114, 127-131, 144-148, 161-165, 178-182, 195-199, 212-216, 229-233, 246-250, 263-267, 280-284, 297-301, 314-318, 331-335, 348-352, 365-369, 382-386, 399-403, 416-420, 433-437, 450-454, 467-471, 484-488, 501-505, 518-522, 535-539, 552-556, 569-573, 586-590, 603-607, 620-624, 637-641, 654-658, 671-675, 688-692, 705-709, 722-726, 739-743, 756-760, 773-777, 790-794, 807-811, 824-828, 841-845, 858-862, 875-879, 892-896, 909-913, 926-930, 943-947, 960-964, 977-981, 994-998, 1011-1015, 1028-1032, 1045-1049, 1062-1066, 1079-1083, 1096-1100, 1113-1117, 1130-1134, 1147-1151, 1164-1168, 1181-1185, 1198-1202, 1300-1304, 1317-1321, 1334-1338, 1351-1355, 1368-1372, 1385-1389, 1402-1406, 1419-1423, 1436-1440, 1453-1457, 1470-1474, 1487-1491, 1504-1508, 1521-1525, 1538-1542, 1555-1559, 1572-1576, 1589-1593, 1606-1610, 1623-1627, 1640-1644, 1657-1661, 1674-1678, 1691-1695, 1708-1712, 1725-1729, 1742-1746, 1759-1763, 1776-1780, 1793-1797, 1810-1814, 1827-1831, 1844-1848, 1861-1865, 1878-1882, 1895-1899, 1912-1916, 1929-1933, 1946-1950, 1963-1967, 1980-1984, 1997-2001, 2014-2018, 2031-2035, 2048-2052, 2065-2069, 2082-2086, 2099-2103, 2116-2120, 2133-2137, 2150-2154, 2167-2171, 2184-2188, 2201-2205, 2218-2222, 2235-2239, 2252-2256, 2269-2273, 2286-2290, 2303-2307, 2320-2324, 2337-2341, 2354-2358, 2371-2375, 2388-2392, 2405-2409, 2422-2426, 2524-2528, 2541-2545, 2558-2562, 2575-2579, 2609-2613, 2626-2630, 2643-2647, 2660-2664, 2677-2681, 2694-2698, 2711-2715, 2728-2732, 2745-2749, 2762-2766, 2779-2783, 2796-2800, 2813-2817, 2830-2834, 2847-2851, 2866-2870, 2883-2887, 2900-2914, 2917-2921, and 2934-2938.

Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, substitutions or mutations may be made at positions that are generally conserved among proteins of that function. In a further embodiment, nucleic acid sequences may be mutated or substituted such that the amino acid they code for is unchanged (degenerate substitutions and/or mutations) and/or mutated or substituted such that any resulting amino acid substitutions or mutations are made at positions that are generally conserved among proteins of that function. Examples of such nucleic acid sequences may include, but are not limited to, those found in are the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 13-17, 30-34, 47-51, 64-68, 81-85, 98-102, 115-119, 132-136, 149-153, 166-170, 183-187, 200-204, 217-221, 234-238, 251-255, 268-272, 285-289, 302-306, 319-323, 336-340, 353-357, 370-374, 387-391, 404-408, 421-425, 438-442, 455-459, 472-476, 489-493, 506-510, 523-527, 540-544, 557-561, 574-578, 591-595, 608-612, 625-629, 642-646, 659-663, 676-680, 693-697, 710-714, 727-731, 744-748, 761-765, 778-782, 795-799, 812-816, 829-833, 846-850, 863-867, 880-884, 897-901, 914-918, 931-935, 948-952, 965-969, 982-986, 999-1003, 1016-1020, 1033-1037, 1050-1054, 1067-1071, 1084-1088, 1101-1105, 1118-1122, 1135-1139, 1152-1156, 1169-1173, 1186-1190, 1203-1207, 1305-1309, 1322-1326, 1339-1343, 1356-1360, 1373-1377, 1390-1394, 1407-1411, 1424-1428, 1441-1445, 1458-1462, 1475-1479, 1492-1496, 1509-1513, 1526-1530, 1543-1547, 1560-1564, 1577-1581, 1594-1598, 1611-1615, 1628-1632, 1645-1649, 1662-1666, 1679-1683, 1696-1700, 1713-1717, 1730-1734, 1747-1751, 1764-1768, 1781-1785, 1798-1802, 1815-1819, 1832-1836, 1849-1853, 1866-1870, 1883-1887, 1900-1904, 1917-1921, 1934-1938, 1951-1955, 1968-1972, 1985-1989, 2002-2006, 2019-2023, 2036-2040, 2053-2057, 2070-2074, 2087-2091, 2104-2108, 2121-2125, 2138-2142, 2155-2159, 2172-2176, 2189-2193, 2206-2210, 2223-2227, 2240-2244, 2257-2261, 2274-2278, 2291-2295, 2308-2312, 2325-2329, 2342-2346, 2359-2363, 2376-2380, 2393-2397, 2410-2414, 2427-2431, 2529-2533, 2546-2550, 2563-2567, 2580-2584, 2614-2618, 2631-2635, 2648-2652, 2665-2669, 2682-2686, 2699-2703, 2716-2720, 2733-2737, 2750-2754, 2767-2771, 2784-2788, 2801-2805, 2818-2822, 2835-2839, 2852-2856, 2878-2882, 2888-2892, 2905-2909, 2922-2926, and 2939-2943 or fragments thereof.

The specific homologous polypeptides likewise correspond to polypeptides coded for by the specific homologous nucleotide sequences such as defined above and thus comprise in the present definition the polypeptides, which are mutated or correspond to variants that can exist in Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, and which especially correspond to truncations, substitutions, deletions, and/or additions of at least one amino acid residue.

“Specific biologically active fragment of a polypeptide” according to an embodiment of the invention will be understood in particular as designating a specific polypeptide fragment, such as defined above, having at least one of the characteristics of polypeptides according to the invention. In certain embodiments the peptide is capable of behaving as at least one of the types of proteins outlined in Table 1.

The polypeptide fragments according to embodiments of the invention can correspond to isolated or purified fragments naturally present in Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or correspond to fragments that can be obtained by cleavage of the polypeptide by a proteolytic enzyme, such as trypsin or chymotrypsin or collagenase, or by a chemical reagent, such as cyanogen bromide (CNBr). Such polypeptide fragments can likewise just as easily be prepared by chemical synthesis, from hosts transformed by an expression vector according to the invention containing a nucleic acid allowing the expression of the fragments, placed under the control of appropriate regulation and/or expression elements.

“Modified polypeptide” of a polypeptide according to an embodiment of the invention is understood as designating a polypeptide obtained by genetic recombination or by chemical synthesis as will be described below, having at least one modification with respect to the normal sequence. These modifications may or may not be able to bear on amino acids at the origin of specificity, and/or of activity, or at the origin of the structural conformation, localization, and of the capacity of membrane insertion of the polypeptide according to the invention. It will thus be possible to create polypeptides of equivalent, increased, or decreased activity, and of equivalent, narrower, or wider specificity. Among the modified polypeptides, it is necessary to mention the polypeptides in which up to 5 or more amino acids can be modified, truncated at the N- or C-terminal end, or even deleted or added.

The methods allowing the modulations on eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells to be demonstrated are well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. It is likewise well understood that it will be possible to use the nucleotide sequences coding for the modified polypeptides for the modulations, for example, through vectors according to the invention and described below.

The preceding modified polypeptides can be obtained by using combinatorial chemistry, in which it is possible to systematically vary parts of the polypeptide before testing them on models, cell cultures or microorganisms, for example, to select the compounds that are most active or have the properties sought.

Chemical synthesis likewise has the advantage of being able to use unnatural amino acids, or nonpeptide bonds.

Thus, in order to improve the duration of life of the polypeptides, according to the invention, it may be of interest to use unnatural amino acids, for example, in D form, or else amino acid analogs, especially sulfur-containing forms, for example.

Finally, it will be possible to integrate the structure of the polypeptides according to the invention, its specific or modified homologous forms, into chemical structures of polypeptide type or others. Thus, it may be of interest to provide at the N- and C-terminal ends compounds not recognized by proteases.

The nucleotide sequences coding for a polypeptide according to the invention are likewise part of the invention.

The invention likewise relates to nucleotide sequences utilizable as a primer or probe, characterized in that the sequences are selected from the nucleotide sequences according to the invention.

It is well understood that the present invention, in various embodiments, likewise relates to specific polypeptides of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, coded for by nucleotide sequences, capable of being obtained by purification from natural polypeptides, by genetic recombination or by chemical synthesis by procedures well known to a person skilled in the art and such as described in particular below. In the same manner, the labeled or unlabeled mono- or polyclonal antibodies directed against the specific polypeptides coded for by the nucleotide sequences are also encompassed by the invention.

Embodiments of the invention additionally relate to the use of a nucleotide sequence according to the invention as a primer or probe for the detection and/or the amplification of nucleic acid sequences.

The nucleotide sequences according to embodiments of the invention can thus be used to amplify nucleotide sequences, especially by the PCR technique (polymerase chain reaction) (Erlich, 1989; Innis et al., 1990; Rolfs et al., 1991; and White et al., 1997).

These oligodeoxyribonucleotide or oligoribonucleotide primers advantageously have a length of at least 8 nucleotides, preferably of at least 12 nucleotides, and even more preferentially of at least 20 nucleotides.

Other amplification techniques of the target nucleic acid can be advantageously employed as alternatives to PCR.

The nucleotide sequences of the invention, in particular the primers according to the invention, can likewise be employed in other procedures of amplification of a target nucleic acid, such as: the TAS technique (Transcription-based Amplification System), described by Kwoh et al. in 1989; the 3SR technique (Self-Sustained Sequence Replication), described by Guatelli et al. in 1990; the NASBA technique (Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification), described by Kievitis et al. in 1991; the SDA technique (Strand Displacement Amplification) (Walker et al., 1992); and the TMA technique (Transcription Mediated Amplification).

The polynucleotides of the invention can also be employed in techniques of amplification or of modification of the nucleic acid serving as a probe, such as: the LCR technique (Ligase Chain Reaction), described by Landegren et al. in 1988 and improved by Barany et al. in 1991, which employs a thermostable ligase; the RCR technique (Repair Chain Reaction), described by Segev in 1992; the CPR technique (Cycling Probe Reaction), described by Duck et al. in 1990; the amplification technique with Q-beta replicase, described by Miele et al. in 1983 and especially improved by Chu et al. in 1986, Lizardi et al. in 1988, then by Burg et al., as well as by Stone et al. in 1996.

In the case where the target polynucleotide to be detected is possibly an RNA, for example, an mRNA, it will be possible to use, prior to the employment of an amplification reaction with the aid of at least one primer according to the invention or to the employment of a detection procedure with the aid of at least one probe of the invention, an enzyme of reverse transcriptase type in order to obtain a cDNA from the RNA contained in the biological sample. The cDNA obtained will thus serve as a target for the primer(s) or the probe(s) employed in the amplification or detection procedure according to the invention.

The detection probe will be chosen in such a manner that it hybridizes with the target sequence or the amplicon generated from the target sequence. By way of sequence, such a probe will advantageously have a sequence of at least 12 nucleotides, in particular of at least 20 nucleotides, and preferably of at least 100 nucleotides.

Embodiments of the invention also comprise the nucleotide sequences utilizable as a probe or primer according to the invention, characterized in that they are labeled with a radioactive compound or with a nonradioactive compound.

The unlabeled nucleotide sequences can be used directly as probes or primers, although the sequences are generally labeled with a radioactive isotope (³²P, ³⁵S, ³H, ¹²⁵I) or with a nonradioactive molecule (biotin, acetylaminofluorene, digoxigenin, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, fluorescein) to obtain probes, which are utilizable for numerous applications.

Examples of nonradioactive labeling of nucleotide sequences are described, for example, in French Patent No. 7810975 or by Urdea et al. or by Sanchez-Pescador et al. in 1988.

In the latter case, it will also be possible to use one of the labeling methods described in patents FR-2 422 956 and FR-2 518 755.

The hybridization technique can be carried out in various manners (Matthews et al., 1988). The most general method consists in immobilizing the nucleic acid extract of cells on a support (such as nitrocellulose, nylon, polystyrene) and in incubating, under well-defined conditions, the immobilized target nucleic acid with the probe. After hybridization, the excess of probe is eliminated and the hybrid molecules formed are detected by the appropriate method (measurement of the radioactivity, of the fluorescence or of the enzymatic activity linked to the probe).

The invention, in various embodiments, likewise comprises the nucleotide sequences according to the invention, characterized in that they are immobilized on a support, covalently or noncovalently.

According to another advantageous mode of employing nucleotide sequences according to the invention, the latter can be used immobilized on a support and can thus serve to capture, by specific hybridization, the target nucleic acid obtained from the biological sample to be tested. If necessary, the solid support is separated from the sample and the hybridization complex formed between the capture probe and the target nucleic acid is then detected with the aid of a second probe, a so-called detection probe, labeled with an easily detectable element.

Another aspect of the present invention is a vector for the cloning and/or expression of a sequence, characterized in that it contains a nucleotide sequence according to the invention.

The vectors, according to the invention, characterized in that they contain the elements allowing the integration, expression and/or the secretion of the nucleotide sequences in a determined host cell, are likewise part of the invention.

The vector may then contain a promoter, signals of initiation and termination of translation, as well as appropriate regions of regulation of transcription. It may be able to be maintained stably in the host cell and can optionally have particular signals specifying the secretion of the translated protein. These different elements may be chosen as a function of the host cell used. To this end, the nucleotide sequences according to the invention may be inserted into autonomous replication vectors within the chosen host, or integrated vectors of the chosen host.

Such vectors will be prepared according to the methods currently used by a person skilled in the art, and it will be possible to introduce the clones resulting therefrom into an appropriate host by standard methods, such as, for example, lipofection, electroporation, and thermal shock.

The vectors according to the invention are, for example, vectors of plasmid or viral origin. One example of a vector for the expression of polypeptides of the invention is Baculovirus.

These vectors are useful for transforming host cells in order to clone or to express the nucleotide sequences of the invention.

The invention likewise comprises the host cells transformed by a vector according to the invention.

These cells can be obtained by the introduction into host cells of a nucleotide sequence inserted into a vector such as defined above, then the culturing of the cells under conditions allowing the replication and/or expression of the transfected nucleotide sequence.

The host cell can be selected from prokaryotic or eukaryotic systems, such as, for example, bacterial cells (Olins and Lee, 1993), but likewise yeast cells (Buckholz, 1993), as well as plants cells, such as Arabidopsis sp., and animal cells, in particular the cultures of mammalian cells (Edwards and Aruffo, 1993), for example, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, but likewise the cells of insects in which it is possible to use procedures employing baculoviruses, for example, Sf9 insect cells (Luckow, 1993).

Embodiments of the invention likewise relate to organisms comprising one of the transformed cells according to the invention.

The obtainment of transgenic organisms, according to the invention, of expressing one or more of the genes of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius or part of the genes may be carried out in, for example, rats, mice, or rabbits according to methods well known to a person skilled in the art, such as by viral or nonviral transfections. It will be possible to obtain the transgenic organisms expressing one or more of the genes by transfection of multiple copies of the genes under the control of a strong promoter of ubiquitous nature, or selective for one type of tissue. It will likewise be possible to obtain the transgenic organisms by homologous recombination in embryonic cell strains, transfer of these cell strains to embryos, selection of the affected chimeras at the level of the reproductive lines, and growth of the chimeras.

The transformed cells, as well as the transgenic organisms according to the invention, are utilizable in procedures for preparation of recombinant polypeptides.

It is today possible to produce recombinant polypeptides in relatively large quantity by genetic engineering using the cells transformed by expression vectors according to the invention or using transgenic organisms according to the invention.

The procedures for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention in recombinant form, characterized in that they employ a vector and/or a cell transformed by a vector according to the invention and/or a transgenic organism comprising one of the transformed cells according to the invention are themselves comprised in the present invention.

As used herein, “transformation” and “transformed” relate to the introduction of nucleic acids into a cell, whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Further, “transformation” and “transformed,” as used herein, need not relate to growth control or growth deregulation.

Among the procedures for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention in recombinant form, the preparation procedures employing a vector, and/or a cell transformed by the vector and/or a transgenic organism comprising one of the transformed cells, containing a nucleotide sequence according to the invention coding for a polypeptide of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.

A variant according to the invention may consist of producing a recombinant polypeptide fused to a “carrier” protein (chimeric protein). The advantage of this system is that it may allow stabilization of and/or a decrease in the proteolysis of the recombinant product, an increase in the solubility in the course of renaturation in vitro and/or a simplification of the purification when the fusion partner has an affinity for a specific ligand.

More particularly, the invention relates to a procedure for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention comprising the following steps: a) culture of transformed cells under conditions allowing the expression of a recombinant polypeptide of a nucleotide sequence according to the invention; b) if need be, recovery of the recombinant polypeptide.

When the procedure for preparation of a polypeptide of the invention employs a transgenic organism according to the invention, the recombinant polypeptide is then extracted from the organism.

The invention also relates to a polypeptide that is capable of being obtained by a procedure of the invention, such as described previously.

The invention also comprises a procedure for preparation of a synthetic polypeptide, characterized in that it uses a sequence of amino acids of polypeptides according to the invention.

The invention likewise relates to a synthetic polypeptide obtained by a procedure according to the invention.

The polypeptides according to the invention can likewise be prepared by techniques that are conventional in the field of the synthesis of peptides. This synthesis can be carried out in homogeneous solution or in solid phase.

For example, recourse can be made to the technique of synthesis in a homogeneous solution described by Houben-Weyl in 1974.

This method of synthesis consists in successively condensing, two by two, the successive amino acids in the order required, or in condensing amino acids and fragments formed previously and already containing several amino acids in the appropriate order, or alternatively several fragments previously prepared in this way, it being understood that it will be necessary to protect beforehand all the reactive functions carried by these amino acids or fragments, with the exception of amine functions of one and carboxyls of the other or vice-versa, which must normally be involved in the formation of peptide bonds, especially after activation of the carboxyl function, according to the methods well known in the synthesis of peptides.

Recourse may also be made to the technique described by Merrifield.

To make a peptide chain according to the Merrifield procedure, recourse is made to a very porous polymeric resin, on which is immobilized the first C-terminal amino acid of the chain. This amino acid is immobilized on a resin through its carboxyl group and its amine function is protected. The amino acids that are going to form the peptide chain are thus immobilized, one after the other, on the amino group, which is deprotected beforehand each time, of the portion of the peptide chain already formed, and which is attached to the resin. When the whole of the desired peptide chain has been formed, the protective groups of the different amino acids forming the peptide chain are eliminated and the peptide is detached from the resin with the aid of an acid.

The invention additionally relates to hybrid polypeptides having at least one polypeptide according to the invention, and a sequence of a polypeptide capable of inducing an immune response in man or animals.

Advantageously, the antigenic determinant is such that it is capable of inducing a humoral and/or cellular response.

It will be possible for such a determinant to comprise a polypeptide according to the invention in glycosylated, pegylated, and/or otherwise post-translationally modified form used with a view to obtaining immunogenic compositions capable of inducing the synthesis of antibodies directed against multiple epitopes.

These hybrid molecules can be formed, in part, of a polypeptide carrier molecule or of fragments thereof according to the invention, associated with a possibly immunogenic part, in particular, an epitope of the diphtheria toxin, the tetanus toxin, a surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (Patent FR 79 21811), the VP1 antigen of the poliomyelitis virus or any other viral or bacterial toxin or antigen.

The procedures for synthesis of hybrid molecules encompass the methods used in genetic engineering for constructing hybrid nucleotide sequences coding for the polypeptide sequences sought. It will be possible, for example, to refer advantageously to the technique for obtainment of genes coding for fusion proteins described by Minton in 1984.

The hybrid nucleotide sequences coding for a hybrid polypeptide as well as the hybrid polypeptides according to the invention characterized in that they are recombinant polypeptides obtained by the expression of the hybrid nucleotide sequences are likewise part of the invention.

The invention likewise comprises the vectors characterized in that they contain one of the hybrid nucleotide sequences. The host cells transformed by the vectors, the transgenic organisms comprising one of the transformed cells as well as the procedures for preparation of recombinant polypeptides using the vectors, the transformed cells and/or the transgenic organisms are, of course, likewise part of the invention.

The polypeptides according to the invention, the antibodies according to the invention described below and the nucleotide sequences according to the invention can advantageously be employed in procedures for the detection and/or identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, in a sample capable of containing them. These procedures, according to the specificity of the polypeptides, the antibodies and the nucleotide sequences according to the invention that will be used, will in particular be able to detect and/or to identify Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.

The polypeptides according to the invention can advantageously be employed in a procedure for the detection and/or the identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius in a sample capable of containing them, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of this sample with a polypeptide or one of its fragments according to the invention (under conditions allowing an immunological reaction between the polypeptide and the antibodies possibly present in the biological sample); and b) demonstration of the antigen-antibody complexes possibly formed.

Any conventional procedure can be employed for carrying out such a detection of the antigen-antibody complexes possibly formed.

By way of example, a preferred method brings into play immunoenzymatic processes according to the ELISA technique, by immunofluorescence, or radioimmunological processes (RIA) or their equivalent.

Thus, the invention likewise relates to the polypeptides according to the invention, labeled with the aid of an adequate label, such as, of the enzymatic, fluorescent or radioactive type.

Such methods comprise, for example, the following steps: deposition of determined quantities of a polypeptide composition according to the invention in the wells of a microtiter plate, introduction into the wells of increasing dilutions of serum, or of a biological sample other than that defined previously, having to be analyzed, incubation of the wells of the microtiter plate, introduction into the wells of the microtiter plate of labeled antibodies directed against pig immunoglobulins, the labeling of these antibodies having been carried out with the aid of an enzyme selected from those which are capable of hydrolyzing a substrate by modifying the absorption of the radiation of the latter, at least at a determined wavelength, for example, at 550 nm, detection, by comparison with a control test, of the quantity of hydrolyzed substrate.

The polypeptides according to the invention allow monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to be prepared which are characterized in that they specifically recognize the polypeptides according to the invention. It will advantageously be possible to prepare the monoclonal antibodies from hybridomas according to the technique described by Kohler and Milstein in 1975. It will be possible to prepare the polyclonal antibodies, for example, by immunization of an animal, in particular a mouse, with a polypeptide or a DNA, according to the invention, associated with an adjuvant of the immune response, and then purification of the specific antibodies contained in the serum of the immunized animals on an affinity column on which the polypeptide, which has served as an antigen, has previously been immobilized. The polyclonal antibodies according to the invention can also be prepared by purification, on an affinity column on which a polypeptide according to the invention has previously been immobilized, of the antibodies contained in the serum of an animal immunologically challenged by Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius, or a polypeptide or fragment according to the invention.

The invention likewise relates to mono- or polyclonal antibodies or their fragments, or chimeric antibodies, characterized in that they are capable of specifically recognizing a polypeptide according to the invention.

It will likewise be possible for the antibodies of the invention to be labeled in the same manner as described previously for the nucleic probes of the invention, such as a labeling of enzymatic, fluorescent or radioactive type.

The invention is additionally directed at a procedure for the detection and/or identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius in a sample, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of the sample with a mono- or polyclonal antibody according to the invention (under conditions allowing an immunological reaction between the antibodies and the polypeptides of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius possibly present in the biological sample); and b) demonstration of the antigen-antibody complex possibly formed.

The present invention likewise relates to a procedure for the detection and/or the identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius in a sample, characterized in that it employs a nucleotide sequence according to the invention.

More particularly, the invention relates to a procedure for the detection and/or the identification of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius in a sample, characterized in that it contains the following steps: a) if need be, isolation of the DNA from the sample to be analyzed; b) specific amplification of the DNA of the sample with the aid of at least one primer, or a pair of primers, according to the invention; and c) demonstration of the amplification products.

These can be detected, for example, by the technique of molecular hybridization utilizing a nucleic probe according to the invention. This probe will advantageously be labeled with a nonradioactive (cold probe) or radioactive isotope.

For the purposes of the present invention, “DNA of the biological sample” or “DNA contained in the biological sample” will be understood as meaning either the DNA present in the biological sample considered, or possibly the cDNA obtained after the action of an enzyme of reverse transcriptase type on the RNA present in the biological sample.

A further embodiment of the invention comprises a method, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of a nucleotide probe according to the invention with a biological sample, the DNA contained in the biological sample having, if need be, previously been made accessible to hybridization under conditions allowing the hybridization of the nucleotide probe with the DNA of the sample; and b) demonstration of the hybrid formed between the nucleotide probe and the DNA of the biological sample.

The present invention also relates to a procedure according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) contacting of a nucleotide probe immobilized on a support according to the invention with a biological sample, the DNA of the sample having, if need be, previously been made accessible to hybridization, under conditions allowing the hybridization of the nucleotide probe with the DNA of the sample; b) contacting of the hybrid formed between the nucleotide probe immobilized on a support and the DNA contained in the biological sample, if need be after elimination of the DNA of the biological sample which has not hybridized with the nucleotide probe, with a nucleotide probe labeled according to the invention; and c) demonstration of the novel hybrid formed in step b).

According to an advantageous embodiment of the procedure for detection and/or identification defined previously, this is characterized in that, prior to step a), the DNA of the biological sample is first amplified with the aid of at least one primer according to the invention.

Embodiments of methods include placing a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 in, or replacing a component, of an in-vitro transcription system such as, by way of non-limiting example, a polymerase chain reaction or a reticulocyte lysate transcription/translation system.

Further embodiments of methods include placing a cell producing or encoding a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated nucleotide sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 and/or a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 in an environment comprising temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or a pH at, below, and/or above 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0.

The present invention provides cells that have been genetically manipulated to have an altered capacity to produce expressed proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to Gram-positive microorganisms, such as Bacillus species having enhanced expression of a protein of interest, wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been inactivated, and/or wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been deleted from the Bacillus chromosome. In some further embodiments, one or more indigenous chromosomal regions have been deleted from a corresponding wild-type Bacillus host chromosome. In further embodiments, the Bacillus is an Alicyclobacillus sp. or Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius.

In additional embodiments, methods of modulating transcription or transcription or transcriptional control at temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or at a pH at, below, and/or above 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0 via a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated nucleotide sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 and/or a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927.

Further embodiments of the invention may comprise a kit for modulating transcription or transcriptional control, the kit comprising a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated nucleotide sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of a nucleotide sequences having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 and/or a recombinant, purified, and/or isolated polypeptide selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to at least one of the sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927.

In embodiments of the invention any one of the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention may be enzymatically or functionally active at temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius and/or may be enzymatically or functionally active at a pH at, below, and/or above 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0. In further embodiments of the invention, glycosylation, pegylation, and/or other post-translational modification may be required for the isolated and/or purified polypeptides according to the invention to be enzymatically or functionally active at a pH at or below 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and/or 0 or at temperatures at or above about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, and/or 95 degrees Celsius.

The invention is described in additional detail in the following illustrative examples. Although the examples may represent only selected embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the following examples are illustrative and not limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Transcription and Transcriptional Control Using Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequences from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius

Provided in SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 are a nucleotide sequences isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and coding for the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927. The nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 are placed into expression vectors using techniques standard in the art. The vectors are then provided to cells such as bacteria cells or eukaryotic cells such as Sf9 cells or CHO cells. In conjunction with the normal machinery in present in the cells, the vectors comprising SEQ ID NOS: 2, 19, 36, 53, 70, 87, 104, 121, 138, 155, 172, 189, 206, 223, 240, 257, 274, 291, 308, 325, 342, 359, 376, 393, 410, 427, 444, 461, 478, 495, 512, 529, 546, 563, 580, 597, 614, 631, 648, 665, 682, 699, 716, 733, 750, 767, 784, 801, 818, 835, 852, 869, 886, 903, 920, 937, 954, 971, 988, 1005, 1022, 1039, 1056, 1073, 1090, 1107, 1124, 1141, 1158, 1175, 1192, 1294, 1311, 1328, 1345, 1362, 1379, 1396, 1413, 1430, 1447, 1464, 1481, 1498, 1515, 1532, 1549, 1566, 1583, 1600, 1617, 1634, 1651, 1668, 1685, 1702, 1719, 1736, 1753, 1770, 1787, 1804, 1821, 1838, 1855, 1872, 1889, 1906, 1923, 1940, 1957, 1974, 1991, 2008, 2025, 2042, 2059, 2076, 2093, 2110, 2127, 2144, 2161, 2178, 2195, 2212, 2229, 2246, 2263, 2280, 2297, 2314, 2331, 2348, 2365, 2382, 2399, 2416, 2518, 2535, 2552, 2569, 2603, 2620, 2637, 2654, 2671, 2688, 2705, 2722, 2739, 2756, 2773, 2790, 2807, 2824, 2841, 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 produce the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927. The polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 are then isolated and/or purified. The isolated and/or purified polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 are then each demonstrated to have one or more of the activities provided in Table 1.

The isolated and/or purified polypeptides of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 18, 35, 52, 69, 86, 103, 120, 137, 154, 171, 188, 205, 222, 239, 256, 273, 290, 307, 324, 341, 358, 375, 392, 409, 426, 443, 460, 477, 494, 511, 528, 545, 562, 579, 596, 613, 630, 647, 664, 681, 698, 715, 732, 749, 766, 783, 800, 817, 834, 851, 868, 885, 902, 819, 936, 953, 970, 987, 1004, 1021, 1038, 1055, 1072, 1089, 1106, 1123, 1140, 1157, 1174, 1191, 1293, 1310, 1327, 1344, 1361, 1378, 1395, 1412, 1429, 1446, 1463, 1480, 1497, 1514, 1531, 1548, 1565, 1582, 1599, 1616, 1633, 1650, 1667, 1684, 1701, 1718, 1735, 1752, 1769, 1786, 1803, 1820, 1837, 1854, 1871, 1888, 1905, 1922, 1939, 1956, 1973, 1990, 2007, 2024, 2041, 2058, 2075, 2092, 2109, 2126, 2143, 2160, 2177, 2194, 2211, 2228, 2245, 2262, 2279, 2296, 2313, 2330, 2347, 2364, 2381, 2398, 2415, 2517, 2534, 2551, 2568, 2602, 2619, 2636, 2653, 2670, 2687, 2704, 2721, 2738, 2755, 2772, 2789, 2806, 2823, 2840, 2859, 2876, 2893, 2910, and 2927 are placed in an extracellular transcription system and are demonstrated to have activity in transcription or modulating transcription.

Example 2: Transcriptional Control Using Catabolite-Responsive Elements from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius

Provided in SEQ ID NOS: 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 are nucleotide sequences isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius. The nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 are placed into expression vectors and functionally linked to a reporter gene using techniques standard in the art. The vectors are then provided to cells such as bacteria cells or eukaryotic cells such as Sf9 cells or CHO cells. In conjunction with the normal machinery in present in the cells, the vectors comprising SEQ ID NOS: 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 attempt to produce the protein coded for by the reporter gene in an environment designed to assay the function of a catabolite-responsive element. The cells are then assayed for the presence or absence and/or level of the reporter gene product. SEQ ID NOS: 2857, 2858, 2860, 2877, 2894, 2911, and 2928 are then each demonstrated to have activity as a catabolite-responsive element.

All references, including publications, patents, and patent applications, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

While this invention has been described in certain embodiments, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and that fall within the limits of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

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What is claimed is:
 1. An expression vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1514 and wherein the polypeptide is a ribose operon repressor.
 2. The expression vector of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is a central glycolytic genes regulator at a temperature at or above 50 degrees Celsius.
 3. The expression vector isolated of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide has 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:
 1514. 4. The expression vector isolated of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid has at least 90% identity to SEQ ID NO:
 1515. 5. The expression vector isolated of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid has 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:
 1515. 6. A cell comprising the expression vector of claim
 1. 7. A method of modulating transcription or transcriptional control at temperatures at or above 25 degrees Celsius, the method comprising providing to a transcriptional system the expression vector of claim
 1. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein providing to a transcriptional system the expression vector of claim 1 occurs at a temperature at or above 50 degrees Celsius. 